If it's good enough for EDH, Modern and Casual, it's good enough for Limited, so here it is, the Random Card of the Day Thread. The card pool may not be deep enough to do this daily for the whole length of the format, so it may skip a day here and there or include sets currently running on MTGO as flashback drafts. Updates between 9 and 11 AM EST.
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The card will be randomly selected via various means but sometimes a card will be chosen for certain reasons.
RCD GROUNDRULES
Only discuss the current card or the previous card if there is something important to respond to.
Keep discussion on Limited only.
Do not spam. Explain why a card is a bomb or sucks. Don't post anything. Or tell a funny story. We are going to be more lenient with spam here than in other threads, but don't just respond with a "lol" or something similar.
Financial considerations are to be ignored for all discussion. Tarmogoyf is worth a lot of money, but we are not here to discuss its value, but its playability in Limited.
All other forum rules and Limited rules also apply.
11/16/14 Avalanche Tusker
11/17/14 Herald of Anafenza
11/18/14 Kheru Spellsnatcher
11/19/14 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
11/20/14 Bitter Revelation
11/21/14 Leaping Master
11/24/14 Abzan Charm
11/25/14 Monastery Flock
11/26/14 The Banner Cycle
11/28/14 Jeskai Ascendancy
12/1/14 Throttle
12/2/14 Whirlwind Adept
12/3/14 Canyon Lurkers
12/4/14 Barrage of Boulders
12/5/14 Crippling Chill
12/8/14 Scion of Glaciers
12/9/14 Pearl Lake Ancient
12/10/14 Bloodfire Mentor
12/11/14 Disdainful Stroke
12/12/14 Mer-Ek Nightblade
12/15/14 Tri-Lands
12/16/14 Briber's Purse
12/17/14 Treasure Cruise
12/18/14 Brave the Sands
12/19/14 Ghostfire Blade
12/22/14 Chief of the Edge
12/23/14 High Sentinels of Arashin
12/26/14 Dragonscale Boon
12/29/14 Seeker of the Way
12/30/14 Disowned Ancestor
12/31/14 Retribution of the Ancients
1/2/15 Arrow Storm
1/5/15 Goblinslide
1/6/15 Tusked Colossodon
1/7/15 Alabaster Kirin
1/8/15 Sultai Ascendancy
1/9/15 Summit Prowler
1/12/15 Utter End
1/13/15 Hewed Stone Retainers
1/14/15 Formless Nurturing
1/15/15 Dark Deal
1/16/15 Sultai Runemark
1/19/15 Dragonscale General
1/20/15 Alesha, Who Smiles at Death
1/21/15 Write into Being
1/22/15 Bloodfire Enforcers
1/23/15 Shifting Loyalties
1/26/15 Jeskai Infiltrator
1/27/15 Merciless Executioner
1/28/15 Gore Swine
1/29/15 Rageform
1/30/15 Sage-Eye Avengers
2/2/15 Humble Defector
2/3/15 Renowned Weaponsmith
2/4/15 Mob Rule
2/5/15 Grim Contest
2/6/15 Rite of Undoing
2/9/15 Arashin Cleric
2/10/15 Mistfire Adept
2/11/15 Fascination
2/12/15 Qarsi High Priest
2/13/15 Jeskai Runemark
2/16/15 Smoldering Efreet
2/17/15 Hunt the Weak
2/18/15 Sandsteppe Outcast
2/19/15 Battlefront Krushok
2/20/15 Mardu Shadowspear
2/23/15 Monastery Siege
2/24/15 Pyrotechnics
2/25/15 Battle Brawler
2/26/15 Friendly Fire
2/27/15 Whisperer of the Wilds
3/3/15 Flamewake Phoenix
3/4/15 Fierce Invocation
3/5/15 Ugin's Construct
3/6/15 Bathe in Dragonfire
3/9/15 Cunning Strike
3/10/15 Honor's Reward
3/11/15 Hooded Assassin
3/12/15 Ruthless Instincts
3/13/15 Arcbond
3/16/15 Qal Sisma Behemoth
3/17/15 Echoes of the Kin Tree
3/18/15 Skywise Teachings
3/19/15 Glade Watcher
3/20/15 Dragonlord Kolaghan
3/23/15 Descent of the Dragons
3/24/15 Strongarm Monk
3/25/15 Pinion Feast
3/26/15 Sultai Emissary (Throwback Thursday)
3/27/15 Dance of the Skywise
3/28/15 Coat with Venom
3/29/15 Myth Realized
3/30/15 Reduce in Stature
3/31/15 Hardened Berserker
4/1/15 Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, Forest
4/2/15 Stampeding Elk Herd
4/3/15 Twin Bolt
4/4/15 Palace Familiar
4/5/15 Necromaster Dragon
4/6/15 Atarka Efreet
4/7/15 Champion of Arashin
4/8/15 Volcanic Vision
4/9/15 Gurmag Angler [Throwback Thursday]
4/10/15 Dragonlord Ojutai
4/11/15 Custodian of the Trove
4/12/15 Zurgo Bellstriker
4/13/15 Dromoka Warrior
4/14/15 Elusive Spellfist
4/15/15 Risen Executioner
4/16/15 "Refuge" Lands [Throwback Thursday]
4/17/15 Dromoka's Gift
4/18/15 Lurking Arynx
4/19/15 Mirror Mockery
4/20/15 Pristine Skywise
4/21/15 Collected Company
4/22/15 Contradict
4/23/15 Mardu Scout [Throwback Thursday]
4/24/15 Colossodon Yearling
4/25/15 Marang River Skeleton
4/26/15 Dragonlord's Servant
4/27/15 Ruthless Deathfang
4/28/15 Savage Ventmaw
4/29/15 Swift Warkite
4/30/15 Enduring Scalelord
5/1/15 Cunning Breezedancer
5/2/15 Guardian Shield-Bearer
5/3/15 Ainok Survivalist
5/4/15 Updraft Elemental
5/5/15 Student of Ojutai
5/6/15 Dragonloft Idol
5/7/15 Dragon Fodder
5/8/15 Salt Road Quartermasters
5/9/15 Ancestral Statue
5/10/15 Dragonlord Atarka
5/11/15 Death Wind
5/13/15 Great Teacher's Decree
5/14/15 Crux of Fate [Throwback Thursday]
5/15/15 Arashin Sovereign
5/16/15 Vulturous Aven
5/17/15 Dragon Whisperer
5/18/15 Aven Tactician
5/19/15 Silumgar Butcher
5/20/15 Kolaghan Stormsinger
5/21/15 War Flare [Throwback Thrusday]
5/22/15 Silumgar Assassin
5/23/15 Deadly Wanderings
5/25/15 Thief of Hope
5/26/15 Cytoplast Root-Kin
5/27/15 Agony Warp
5/28/15 Tarmogoyf
5/29/15 Vampire Outcasts
5/30/15 Alloy Myr
6/1/15 Sickleslicer
6/2/15 Burst Lightning
6/3/15 Tribal Flames
6/4/15 Lorescale Coatl
6/5/15 Smokebraider
6/6/15 Kami of Ancient Law
6/7/15 Surrakar Spellblade
6/8/15 Indomitable Archangel
6/9/15 Culling Dais
6/10/15 Noble Hierarch
6/11/15 Mortarpod
6/12/15 Dark Confidant
6/14/15 Mulldrifter
6/15/15 Drooling Groodion
6/16/15 Instill Infection
6/17/15 Telling Time
6/18/15 Narcolepsy
6/19/15 Otherworldly Journey
6/21/15 Flashfreeze
6/22/15 Thrummingbird
6/24/15 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
6/25/15 Sphere of the Suns
6/26/15 Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
6/27/15 Skyreach Manta
6/28/15 Rusted Relic
6/29/15 Scute Mob
7/1/15 Water Servant
7/2-5/15 Karoo Lands
7/6/15 Ambush Viper
7/7/15 Izzet Charm
7/8/15 Havengul Lich
7/9/15 Molten Birth
7/10/15 Nyxborn Shieldmate
7/12/15 Heliod's Pilgrim
7/13/15 Pharika's Disciple
7/14/15 Scrapskin Drake
7/15/15 Eyeblight Assassin
7/16/15 Joraga Invocation
7/17/15 Ravaging Blaze
7/18/15 Knightly Valor
7/20/15 Harbinger of the Tides
7/21/15 Languish
7/22/15 Nissa, Vastwood Seer // Nissa, Sage Animist
7/24/15 Bone to Ash
7/26/15 Helm of the Gods
7/27/15 Mage-Ring Responder
7/28/15 Macabre Waltz
7/29/15 Send to Sleep
7/30/15 Cleric of the Forward Order
7/31/15 orbs of warding
8/1/15 Dreadwaters
8/2/15 Auramancer
8/3/15 Possessed Skaab
8/4/15 Despoiler Of Souls
8/5/15 Elemental Bond
8/6/15 Kothophed, Soul Hoarder
8/7/15 Vastwood Gorger
8/8/15 Demolish
8/9/15 Akroan Jailer
8/10/15 Talent of the Telepath
8/11/15 Necromantic Summons
8/12/15 Foundry of the Consuls
8/13/15 Abbot of Keral Keep
8/15/15 Valeron Wardens
8/16/15 Stratus Walk
8/17/15 Honored Hierarch
8/19/15 Revenant
8/21/15 Prickleboar
8/22/15 Touch of Moonglove
8/23/15 Mage-Ring Network
8/24/15 Runed Servitor
8/25/15 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy // Jace, Telepath Unbound
8/26/15 Mage-Ring Bully
8/27/15 Enlightened Ascetic
8/28/15 Sphinx's Tutelage
8/29/15 Sigil of the Empty Throne
8/30/15 Might of the Masses
8/31/15 Alchemist's Vial
9/1/15 Managorger Hydra
9/2/15 Guardian Automaton
9/3/15 Hitchclaw Recluse
9/4/15 Vryn Wingmare
9/5/15 Enthralling Victor
9/7/15 Ramroller
9/8/15 Fiery Impulse
9/9/15 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
9/10/15 Disperse
9/11/15 Blessed Spirits
9/12/15 Rhox Maulers
9/13/15 Liliana, Heretical Healer // Liliana, Defiant Necromancer
9/14/15 Azorius Keyrune
9/15/15 Amass the Components
9/16/15 Mayael the Anima
9/17/15 Aspect of Hydra
9/18/15 Pacifism
9/19115 Desecration Demon
9/21/15 Pitchburn Devils
9/22/15 Ranger's Guile
9/23/15 Brimstone Mage
9/24/15 Azorius Charm
9/25/15 Fireball
9/26/15 Overrun
9/28/15 Eldrazi Devastator
9/29/15 Lifespring Druid
9/30/15 Drana's Emissary
10/1/15 Mortuary Mire
10/5/15 Oracle of Dust
10/6/15 Herald of Kozilek
10/7/15 Kitesail Scout
10/8/15 Kalastria Healer
10/9/15 Woodland Wanderer
10/10/15 Planar Outburst
10/11/15 Akoum Stonewaker
10/12/15 Molten Nursery
10/13/15 Murk Strider
10/14/15 Fertile Thicket
10/15/15 Salvage Drone
10/16/15 Kor Castigator
10/19/15 Blisterpod
10/20/15 Sandstone Bridge
10/21/15 Dutiful Return
10/22/15 Angelic Captain
10/23/15 Spell Shrivel
10/24/15 Munda, Ambush Leader
10/25/15 Wave-Wing Elemental
10/26/15 Fathom Feeder
10/27/15 Encircling Fissure
10/28/15 Halimar Tidecaller
10/29/15 Prism Array
10/30/15 Catacomb Sifter
10/31/15 Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger
11/1/15 Mind Raker
11/2/15 Chasm Guide
11/3/15 Serene Steward
11/4/15 Goblin War Paint
11/5/15 Emeria Shepherd
11/6/15 Nettle Drone
11/7/15 Dispel
11/8/15 Aligned Hedron Network
11/9/15 Unified Front
11/10/15 Silent Skimmer
11/11/15 Eyeless Watcher
11/12/15 Kalastria Healer (Throwback Thrusday)
11/13/15 Makindi Sliderunner
11/14/15 Brilliant Spectrum
11/15/15 Retreat to Hagra
11/16/15 Evolving Wilds
11/17/15 Firemantle Mage
11/18/15 Retreat to Valakut
11/19/15 Guul Draz Overseer
11/20/15 Tide Drifter
11/21/15 Looming Spires
11/22/15 Void Winnower
11/23/15 Skitterskin
11/24/15 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
11/25/15 Mist Intruder
11/26/15 Feed the Clan
11/27/15 Altar's Reap
11/30/15 Ondu Champion
12/1/15 Coralhelm Guide
12/2/15 Incubator Drone
12/3/15 Ondu Greathorn
12/4/15 Unnatural Aggression
12/5/15 Voracious Null
12/6/15 Call the Scions
12/7/15 Serpentine Spike
12/9/15 Felidar Sovereign
12/9/15 Drowner of Hope
12/10/15 Oblivion Sower
12/11/15 Ob Nixilis Reignited
12/12/15 Ulamog's Despoiler
12/14/15 Mire's Malice
12/15/15 Kiora, Master of the Depths
12/16/15 Jaddi Offshoot
12/17/15 Painful Truths
12/18/15 Ulamog's Reclaimer
12/19/15 Clutch of Currents
12/20/15 Grave Birthing
12/21/15 Black Lotus
12/22/15 Tinker
12/23/15 Recurring Nightmare
12/24/15 Gifts Ungiven
12/25/15 Dragonlord Atarka
12/26/15 Zealous Conscripts
12/27/15 Armageddon // Ravages of War
12/28/15 Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
12/29/15 Strip Mine
12/30/15 Wheel of Fortune
12/31/15 Diabolic Tutor
1/1/16 Time Spiral
1/2/16 Mox Emerald // Mox Jet // Mox Pearl // Mox Ruby // Mox Sapphire
1/4/16 Malakir Familiar
1/5/16 Fortified Rampart
1/6/16 Sire of Stagnation
1/7/16 Dominator Drone
1/8/16 Shambling Vent
1/9/16 Kor Bladewhirl
1/11/16 Gruesome Slaughter
1/12/16 Volcanic Upheaval
1/13/16 Part the Waterveil
1/14/14 Rush of Ice
1/15/16 Eldrazi Skyspawner
1/18/16 Wastes
1/19/16 Kozilek, the Great Distortion
1/20/16 Pulse of Murasa
1/21/16 Oath of Nissa
1/22/16 Grasp of Darkness
1/23/16 Gravity Negator
1/24/16 Void Grafter
1/25/16 Call the Gatewatch
1/26/16 Umara Entangler
1/27/15 Shoulder to Shoulder
1/28/16 Flayer Drone
1/29/16 Thought Harvester
1/30/16 Kazuul's Toll Collector
1/31/16 Oath of Gideon
2/1/16 Cliffhaven Vampire
2/2/16 Zada's Commando
2/3/16 Kozilek's Translator
2/4/16 Saddleback Lagac
2/5/16 Gladehart Cavalry
2/6/15 Zulaport Chainmage
2/8/16 Unknown Shores
2/9/16 Pyromancer's Assault
2/10/16 Kor Scythemaster
2/11/16 Reflector Mage
2/12/16 Expedite
2/13/16 Devour in Flames
2/14/16 Sweep Away
2/15/16 Tar Snare
2/16/16 Natural State
2/17/16 Drana's Chosen
2/18/16 Mirrorpool
2/19/16 Roiling Waters
2/20/16 Makindi Aeronaut
2/21/16 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
2/22/16 Munda's Vanguard
2/23/16 Reality Smasher
2/24/15 Bearer of Silence
2/25/16 Chandra, Flamecaller
2/26/16 World Breaker
2/27/16 Linvala, the Preserver
2/28/16 Negate
2/29/16 Maw of Kozilek
3/1/16 Slaughter Drone
3/2/16 Eldrazi Mimic
3/3/16 Jori En, Ruin Diver
3/4/16 Tajuru Pathwarden
3/5-6/16 Cinder Barrens, ]Meandering River, Submerged Boneyard, Timber Gorge, Tranquil Expanse
3/7/16 Bone Saw
3/8/16 Relentless Hunter
3/9/16 Wall of Resurgence
3/10/16 Goblin Freerunner
3/11/16 Essence Depleter
3/12/16 Holdout Settlement
3/13/16 Deceiver of Form
3/14/16 Reality Hemorrhage
3/15/16 Scion Summoner
3/16/16 Ondu War Cleric
3/17/16 Crush of Tentacles
3/18/16 Loam Larva
3/19/16 Mighty Leap
3/20/16 Matter Reshaper
3/21/16 Seer's Lantern
3/22/16 Hedron Alignment
3/23/16 Prophet of Distortion
3/25/16 Lead by Example
3/26/16 Kozilek's Return
3/27/16 Void Shatter
3/28/16 Crumbling Vestige
3/29/16 Vampire Envoy
3/30/16 Steppe Glider
3/31/16 Spawnbinder Mage
4/1/16 http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b460/rai_kerensky/MtGS Humor/unspecified_zps9q2j2hjm.png
4/2/16 Taste for Mayhem
4/3/16 Vedalken Dismisser
My helpy helpdesk of helpfulness.
My Decks: EDH: Sygg, River Cutthroat , Road to Scion
Grimgrin, Corpseborn Modern: Polytokes IRL: Progenitus Polymorph , Goblins
4 toughness is, in my opinion, somewhat less impressive than usual in this format. And the 5-drop slot is definitely unusually crowded this time out, thanks to the good morphs.
All in all, I think Tusker is still fine, but I don't feel nearly as motivated to jump on one that's passed to me as I think I would for an equivalent card in most other sets.
4 toughness is, in my opinion, somewhat less impressive than usual in this format. And the 5-drop slot is definitely unusually crowded this time out, thanks to the good morphs.
Pretty much this. 4 Toughness basically turns this card into something like Suspend: Arc Lightning. The upside is that it has 6 power; it can generally take out that pesky wall and allow you to break a board stall, but so can Burn Away or, often, Arrow Storm. Of course, there is one strong upside over a removal spell; the chance for massive blowouts.
All in all, I'll take it if I'm in Temur, but not above curve considerations.
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My Decks: EDH: Sygg, River Cutthroat , Road to Scion
Grimgrin, Corpseborn Modern: Polytokes IRL: Progenitus Polymorph , Goblins
Tusker is not one of the gold cards I'm looking to draft early. Its power does not justify the color commitment. I would take a lot of uncommons over it. Getting passed a Tusker isn't necessarily a signal.
If you can cast it, it's going to make your deck. The vulnerability of 4 toughness aside, it's still 6/4 for 5 mana and an OK ability. The main problem with the ability is that it only works on offense.
Using the quadrant theory...
Good in development? No. 5 mana + 3 colors means this is a late game play most of the time. You need to get a little lucky to play it on curve, and it conflicts with Morph costs.
Good in parity? Yes. Even if your opponent's life total is high, he cannot ignore the Tusker while having an untapped creature. If he doesn't have a 4-power creature, his options are don't leave anything untapped, or take a 2-for-1, or you get to eat creatures. If he does have a 4-power creature, it trades 1-for-1. 5 mana for a one-for-one trade of a bigger creature is fine. Unlike most big dumb creatures, he can't be ignored at parity which is big. Tusker also makes your removal better if you can clear out their big blocker and force them into a worse situation.
Good when ahead? Obviously. The best use of the ability is force Tusker to trade with their best blocker, allowing the rest of your team to smash.
Good when behind? Eh. It trades with something big on the ground.
So it's good in 2 quadrants, and OK in another. Seems about right. It's a card you play but don't go out of your way for. Don't be afraid to draft this and then not run if your mana doesn't work out.
Had him at the prerelease and he did pretty well for me. He'll usually die in combat, but will take your opponent's best guy down with him. Works nicely with pump spells and Bear Punch.
Re: Herald of Anafenza. In my experience, it's not the fact that he made all of the 1/1 tokens that actually ends up mattering, but rather that this card most incentivizes outlasting your creature repeatedly, so you'll often find yourself with a really large body to start swinging with. Still pretty good, just not as much of a "bomb" as people initially portrayed it as.
At the beginning of the format, Herald of Anafenza was, in my opinion, nearly the most overrated Limited card in the set, and among the players who didn't overrate it, I think it contributed to the early negative impressions of the whole Outlast mechanic during spoiler season. I say "was" overrated rather than "is" because I think a lot more people have caught on that it's not actually very good, although I do think it's still a bit overrated in some quarters.
The problem is that the repeatable 3-mana investment is a lot, and the card's base stats are terrible if you don't invest at least once, and don't start really getting good until you've paid twice.
I'm not saying it's unplayable; it's going to make the cut in an Abzan deck, BW Warriors, or Mardu Tokens just about every time, but compared to other white Outlast creatures, it's closer to Salt Road Patrol than it is to Abzan Falconer or Abzan Battle Priest, which are both superior.
I think that's unfair to Salt Road Patrol. In context, I think it's better than Herald because of its awesome blocking ability and its nice fill for a slot that's pretty mediocre on the whole in Khans.
I think Herald is significantly better on the play than it is on the draw. Still, you want to be throwing down morhps on turn three more than you want to be making a 2/3 and getting a little dude. On another note, I think Herald is better in Mardu than it is in Abzan typically. It fits better into Mardu's wide option whereas Abzan tends to go vertically(?) Is "vertically" a term? Whatever. Everybody gets the point.
Just a suggestion, maybe add the new card of the day to a new post instead of changing the opening post. It makes it easier to see where the discussion of the old card end and discussion of the new one begins.
Re the Herald, it's a 1 drop that's better in the late game than the early game...which is not a bad thing, but it really tests your judgement in when to outlast.
I think it's an ok card. Having played with it a few times, all I can say is that 3 mana to outlast can be tough. Especially when you want to stabilize. No one stabilizes with puny 1/1s. Best case scenario is having a Warrior theme going on, Worst case it's Kor Haven (using 3 sources of mana). Although it gets larger at the same time.
I think it's a 4/5 in Sealed, and maybe a 3/5 in draft.
I believe it's better in Orzhov rather than Boros, but I won't be too unhappy picking it. Maybe just not as a first pick.
That said, the random card of the day is pretty cool. Perhaps we could make it a card of the week?
Kheru Spellsnatcher
I p1p2'd this recently, and was passed one around pick 4. Frank Karsten considers it one of the top rares, and I'm not inclined to disagree. A face-down Spellsnatcher is hard to lose with, if you have the mana to back it up.
Which leads me to a question; do you think in KTK is easier to cast than, say (in a three color deck playing those colors?) Maybe it's a silly topic; my brain still needs caffeine.
Just a suggestion, maybe add the new card of the day to a new post instead of changing the opening post. It makes it easier to see where the discussion of the old card end and discussion of the new one begins.
This was considered. I don't want the forum littered with the sad corpses of RCD discussions. I'll make the first post every day have the card linked, as above. Thanks for the input.
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My Decks: EDH: Sygg, River Cutthroat , Road to Scion
Grimgrin, Corpseborn Modern: Polytokes IRL: Progenitus Polymorph , Goblins
Just a suggestion, maybe add the new card of the day to a new post instead of changing the opening post. It makes it easier to see where the discussion of the old card end and discussion of the new one begins.
This was considered. I don't want the forum littered with the sad corpses of RCD discussions. I'll make the first post every day have the card linked, as above. Thanks for the input.
I don't mean make a new thread on the forum. Just another post on this same thread with the new card. Like how they do it in the EDH forum.
But nevermind, it seems you're doing something similar now.
Re Spellsnatcher...definitely first pickable. You'll probably never cast this faced up.
Picked up Kheru Spellsnatcher high (may have been pick 1) a few weeks ago because it looked really powerful and it was a huge flop. The fact that it's a morph creature raises the floor on it, but in retrospect I would rather have something that flips into a bigger body after blocks then something I have to hold up mana for and potentially sit on multiple turns. Powerful sideboard material.
It starts with a high floor. A card that can be a 2/2 for 3 or a 3/3 for 3U is already just fine.
The ability is very expensive, but it can be a complete blowout, and this is a format where it's not uncommon to hold up 6 mana when passing the turn if you have a morph out. The only time that this card really suffers is if you're getting beaten badly enough that your opponent doesn't need to play more spells right away, and/or you can't afford to leave so much mana up.
I don't mean make a new thread on the forum. Just another post on this same thread with the new card. Like how they do it in the EDH forum.
But nevermind, it seems you're doing something similar now.
Re Spellsnatcher...definitely first pickable. You'll probably never cast this faced up.
Ah so. Well, bingo-bango, done.
You're right, the card would probably play nearly exactly the same if it had no hardcasting option. I suppose it might get thrown onto a losing board to jump in front of death for a turn, and a Hill Giant isn't the worst in this format, but you're just losing so much power from the card, I would rather take a loss a keep the information hidden for the next round than just dump it on the board to mise.
Picked up Kheru Spellsnatcher high (may have been pick 1) a few weeks ago because it looked really powerful and it was a huge flop. The fact that it's a morph creature raises the floor on it, but in retrospect I would rather have something that flips into a bigger body after blocks then something I have to hold up mana for and potentially sit on multiple turns. Powerful sideboard material.
I think this is waay off. Maybe the deck was not a good Spellsnatcher deck; I encourage you to try it again. It absolutely locks down any game you can get to parity by turn 7-8 (in an 18-land deck that can reasonably support UU.) Not having to cast that spell immediately (and in fact, unless I'm mistaken, you can cast it later even if Spellsnatcher has left the battlefield) is pretty sweet.
Basically, countering a spell this way is a 2-for-1, making the card on the whole a freakin' 3-for-1. Boom. Eat my shorts, parity.
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My helpy helpdesk of helpfulness.
My Decks: EDH: Sygg, River Cutthroat , Road to Scion
Grimgrin, Corpseborn Modern: Polytokes IRL: Progenitus Polymorph , Goblins
I've played with Kheru Spellsnatcher a few times and it was very good every time I had it. It is not very rare or difficult to get to six mana in this format and when he flips up, it is pretty bonkers. We're talking a 2-for-0 at worst (you deny the opponent a card for +1 and then you gain a free one for +1). When used on opposing removal or bombs it is really insane because there's so much card advantage generated that way.
Now, once the opponent has seen it, they may start trying to play around it by not throwing down bombs if you have six mana open. It's a little bit like a wrath in that way. But, if they're holding back good cards because they're afraid, then good for you! After the first time your opponent sees it, any morph you play is likely to bite the dust in short order if possible, so I suggest being deceptive about when you play him.
Now, once the opponent has seen it, they may start trying to play around it by not throwing down bombs if you have six mana open. It's a little bit like a wrath in that way. But, if they're holding back good cards because they're afraid, then good for you! After the first time your opponent sees it, any morph you play is likely to bite the dust in short order if possible, so I suggest being deceptive about when you play him.
That's my favorite part about the card! How do you play around her at parity?? By trying to lure your opponent into stealing your second most powerful card? It's still nuts, and if that card is not going to affect the board significantly, it's not gonna work.
Having two in my deck that one time was pure devilry.
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My Decks: EDH: Sygg, River Cutthroat , Road to Scion
Grimgrin, Corpseborn Modern: Polytokes IRL: Progenitus Polymorph , Goblins
I love me some trickery, but this is way overcosted for the format (not effect). It ends up being the throw away morph instead of the bomb it should be. It is like a lot of cards...great effect but rarely goes off.
It's an absolute trump in any grindy attrition-on-attrition matchup. If on the other hand you're on the draw and your opponent goes turn 2 dude, turn 3 morph, turn 4 morph, you can just cast it as a 3/3 for 4. I think getting maximum utility out of this card definitely requires being willing to just face it up in matchups where that will be more relevant.
I've unmorphed this once and it was good, but I still lost the game. It can be difficult to get to spot where this actually goes off. It is very sad on a board in which you are behind because you have to hold up 6 mana or commit creatures to the board, but the flipside is that if you are ahead on board you can basically not lose if you can afford to hold up 6 mana. I suppose that is where this loses some luster for me. If I have lots of instants and mana sinks, holding up 6 isn't that tough, but in many situations it's just not feasible.
The card is in a weird spot for me since it is generally going to be the strongest card in any pack that it is in, but the setup cost is very steep. It's a 9-mana investment (really scary) that nets you a 3-for-1 if you can hold up the requisite mana. Honestly, if I open this, I am praying that there is a Murderous Cut in the pack so I can take that instead. Otherwise, it's a grudging first pick based on power level.
Anyone notice that there's no "as long as Kheru Spellsnatcher is alive" clause in the card. Even if the spellsnatcher dies after stealing a spell, you can still cast it.
I've had Kheru Spellsnatcher a couple times, and it's been... okay. If I could get to:
Board - Stalled or Winning
Spellsnatcher - In play
Mana - 4UU open
I felt like I couldn't lose, and I never did from that position. The thing is, it's not trivial getting there.
Playing a face-down morph that you don't want to trade with an x/2 or flip up into something bigger actually sets you back a fair bit, eating up one of your turns and effectively putting you "down a card" for a while. So against an opponent who's actually doing things, you generally have to spend a few turns clawing your way into a winning or stable position, assuming you even can. This also tends to give your opponent a very long window in which to kill the spellsnatcher, though a face-down morph eating a small removal spell is just disappointing, not a real blowout unless it was Mardu Heart Piercer.
It definitely turns games that are already going well for you into games you can't lose, and it's a solid trump for a stalemate. But it doesn't have the ability to single-handedly swing a game that a real bomb does, and I certainly wouldn't take it over premium removal either.
On a purely non-strategic, personal enjoyment scale, though, I love this card.
If it's good enough for EDH, Modern and Casual, it's good enough for Limited, so here it is, the Random Card of the Day Thread. The card pool may not be deep enough to do this daily for the whole length of the format, so it may skip a day here and there or include sets currently running on MTGO as flashback drafts. Updates between 9 and 11 AM EST.
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The card will be randomly selected via various means but sometimes a card will be chosen for certain reasons.
RCD GROUNDRULES
11/16/14 Avalanche Tusker
11/17/14 Herald of Anafenza
11/18/14 Kheru Spellsnatcher
11/19/14 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
11/20/14 Bitter Revelation
11/21/14 Leaping Master
11/24/14 Abzan Charm
11/25/14 Monastery Flock
11/26/14 The Banner Cycle
11/28/14 Jeskai Ascendancy
12/1/14 Throttle
12/2/14 Whirlwind Adept
12/3/14 Canyon Lurkers
12/4/14 Barrage of Boulders
12/5/14 Crippling Chill
12/8/14 Scion of Glaciers
12/9/14 Pearl Lake Ancient
12/10/14 Bloodfire Mentor
12/11/14 Disdainful Stroke
12/12/14 Mer-Ek Nightblade
12/15/14 Tri-Lands
12/16/14 Briber's Purse
12/17/14 Treasure Cruise
12/18/14 Brave the Sands
12/19/14 Ghostfire Blade
12/22/14 Chief of the Edge
12/23/14 High Sentinels of Arashin
12/26/14 Dragonscale Boon
12/29/14 Seeker of the Way
12/30/14 Disowned Ancestor
12/31/14 Retribution of the Ancients
1/2/15 Arrow Storm
1/5/15 Goblinslide
1/6/15 Tusked Colossodon
1/7/15 Alabaster Kirin
1/8/15 Sultai Ascendancy
1/9/15 Summit Prowler
1/12/15 Utter End
1/13/15 Hewed Stone Retainers
1/14/15 Formless Nurturing
1/15/15 Dark Deal
1/16/15 Sultai Runemark
1/19/15 Dragonscale General
1/20/15 Alesha, Who Smiles at Death
1/21/15 Write into Being
1/22/15 Bloodfire Enforcers
1/23/15 Shifting Loyalties
1/26/15 Jeskai Infiltrator
1/27/15 Merciless Executioner
1/28/15 Gore Swine
1/29/15 Rageform
1/30/15 Sage-Eye Avengers
2/2/15 Humble Defector
2/3/15 Renowned Weaponsmith
2/4/15 Mob Rule
2/5/15 Grim Contest
2/6/15 Rite of Undoing
2/9/15 Arashin Cleric
2/10/15 Mistfire Adept
2/11/15 Fascination
2/12/15 Qarsi High Priest
2/13/15 Jeskai Runemark
2/16/15 Smoldering Efreet
2/17/15 Hunt the Weak
2/18/15 Sandsteppe Outcast
2/19/15 Battlefront Krushok
2/20/15 Mardu Shadowspear
2/23/15 Monastery Siege
2/24/15 Pyrotechnics
2/25/15 Battle Brawler
2/26/15 Friendly Fire
2/27/15 Whisperer of the Wilds
3/3/15 Flamewake Phoenix
3/4/15 Fierce Invocation
3/5/15 Ugin's Construct
3/6/15 Bathe in Dragonfire
3/9/15 Cunning Strike
3/10/15 Honor's Reward
3/11/15 Hooded Assassin
3/12/15 Ruthless Instincts
3/13/15 Arcbond
3/16/15 Qal Sisma Behemoth
3/17/15 Echoes of the Kin Tree
3/18/15 Skywise Teachings
3/19/15 Glade Watcher
3/20/15 Dragonlord Kolaghan
3/23/15 Descent of the Dragons
3/24/15 Strongarm Monk
3/25/15 Pinion Feast
3/26/15 Sultai Emissary (Throwback Thursday)
3/27/15 Dance of the Skywise
3/28/15 Coat with Venom
3/29/15 Myth Realized
3/30/15 Reduce in Stature
3/31/15 Hardened Berserker
4/1/15 Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, Forest
4/2/15 Stampeding Elk Herd
4/3/15 Twin Bolt
4/4/15 Palace Familiar
4/5/15 Necromaster Dragon
4/6/15 Atarka Efreet
4/7/15 Champion of Arashin
4/8/15 Volcanic Vision
4/9/15 Gurmag Angler [Throwback Thursday]
4/10/15 Dragonlord Ojutai
4/11/15 Custodian of the Trove
4/12/15 Zurgo Bellstriker
4/13/15 Dromoka Warrior
4/14/15 Elusive Spellfist
4/15/15 Risen Executioner
4/16/15 "Refuge" Lands [Throwback Thursday]
4/17/15 Dromoka's Gift
4/18/15 Lurking Arynx
4/19/15 Mirror Mockery
4/20/15 Pristine Skywise
4/21/15 Collected Company
4/22/15 Contradict
4/23/15 Mardu Scout [Throwback Thursday]
4/24/15 Colossodon Yearling
4/25/15 Marang River Skeleton
4/26/15 Dragonlord's Servant
4/27/15 Ruthless Deathfang
4/28/15 Savage Ventmaw
4/29/15 Swift Warkite
4/30/15 Enduring Scalelord
5/1/15 Cunning Breezedancer
5/2/15 Guardian Shield-Bearer
5/3/15 Ainok Survivalist
5/4/15 Updraft Elemental
5/5/15 Student of Ojutai
5/6/15 Dragonloft Idol
5/7/15 Dragon Fodder
5/8/15 Salt Road Quartermasters
5/9/15 Ancestral Statue
5/10/15 Dragonlord Atarka
5/11/15 Death Wind
5/13/15 Great Teacher's Decree
5/14/15 Crux of Fate [Throwback Thursday]
5/15/15 Arashin Sovereign
5/16/15 Vulturous Aven
5/17/15 Dragon Whisperer
5/18/15 Aven Tactician
5/19/15 Silumgar Butcher
5/20/15 Kolaghan Stormsinger
5/21/15 War Flare [Throwback Thrusday]
5/22/15 Silumgar Assassin
5/23/15 Deadly Wanderings
5/25/15 Thief of Hope
5/26/15 Cytoplast Root-Kin
5/27/15 Agony Warp
5/28/15 Tarmogoyf
5/29/15 Vampire Outcasts
5/30/15 Alloy Myr
6/1/15 Sickleslicer
6/2/15 Burst Lightning
6/3/15 Tribal Flames
6/4/15 Lorescale Coatl
6/5/15 Smokebraider
6/6/15 Kami of Ancient Law
6/7/15 Surrakar Spellblade
6/8/15 Indomitable Archangel
6/9/15 Culling Dais
6/10/15 Noble Hierarch
6/11/15 Mortarpod
6/12/15 Dark Confidant
6/14/15 Mulldrifter
6/15/15 Drooling Groodion
6/16/15 Instill Infection
6/17/15 Telling Time
6/18/15 Narcolepsy
6/19/15 Otherworldly Journey
6/21/15 Flashfreeze
6/22/15 Thrummingbird
6/24/15 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
6/25/15 Sphere of the Suns
6/26/15 Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
6/27/15 Skyreach Manta
6/28/15 Rusted Relic
6/29/15 Scute Mob
7/1/15 Water Servant
7/2-5/15 Karoo Lands
7/6/15 Ambush Viper
7/7/15 Izzet Charm
7/8/15 Havengul Lich
7/9/15 Molten Birth
7/10/15 Nyxborn Shieldmate
7/12/15 Heliod's Pilgrim
7/13/15 Pharika's Disciple
7/14/15 Scrapskin Drake
7/15/15 Eyeblight Assassin
7/16/15 Joraga Invocation
7/17/15 Ravaging Blaze
7/18/15 Knightly Valor
7/20/15 Harbinger of the Tides
7/21/15 Languish
7/22/15 Nissa, Vastwood Seer // Nissa, Sage Animist
7/24/15 Bone to Ash
7/26/15 Helm of the Gods
7/27/15 Mage-Ring Responder
7/28/15 Macabre Waltz
7/29/15 Send to Sleep
7/30/15 Cleric of the Forward Order
7/31/15 orbs of warding
8/1/15 Dreadwaters
8/2/15 Auramancer
8/3/15 Possessed Skaab
8/4/15 Despoiler Of Souls
8/5/15 Elemental Bond
8/6/15 Kothophed, Soul Hoarder
8/7/15 Vastwood Gorger
8/8/15 Demolish
8/9/15 Akroan Jailer
8/10/15 Talent of the Telepath
8/11/15 Necromantic Summons
8/12/15 Foundry of the Consuls
8/13/15 Abbot of Keral Keep
8/15/15 Valeron Wardens
8/16/15 Stratus Walk
8/17/15 Honored Hierarch
8/19/15 Revenant
8/21/15 Prickleboar
8/22/15 Touch of Moonglove
8/23/15 Mage-Ring Network
8/24/15 Runed Servitor
8/25/15 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy // Jace, Telepath Unbound
8/26/15 Mage-Ring Bully
8/27/15 Enlightened Ascetic
8/28/15 Sphinx's Tutelage
8/29/15 Sigil of the Empty Throne
8/30/15 Might of the Masses
8/31/15 Alchemist's Vial
9/1/15 Managorger Hydra
9/2/15 Guardian Automaton
9/3/15 Hitchclaw Recluse
9/4/15 Vryn Wingmare
9/5/15 Enthralling Victor
9/7/15 Ramroller
9/8/15 Fiery Impulse
9/9/15 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
9/10/15 Disperse
9/11/15 Blessed Spirits
9/12/15 Rhox Maulers
9/13/15 Liliana, Heretical Healer // Liliana, Defiant Necromancer
9/14/15 Azorius Keyrune
9/15/15 Amass the Components
9/16/15 Mayael the Anima
9/17/15 Aspect of Hydra
9/18/15 Pacifism
9/19115 Desecration Demon
9/21/15 Pitchburn Devils
9/22/15 Ranger's Guile
9/23/15 Brimstone Mage
9/24/15 Azorius Charm
9/25/15 Fireball
9/26/15 Overrun
9/28/15 Eldrazi Devastator
9/29/15 Lifespring Druid
9/30/15 Drana's Emissary
10/1/15 Mortuary Mire
10/5/15 Oracle of Dust
10/6/15 Herald of Kozilek
10/7/15 Kitesail Scout
10/8/15 Kalastria Healer
10/9/15 Woodland Wanderer
10/10/15 Planar Outburst
10/11/15 Akoum Stonewaker
10/12/15 Molten Nursery
10/13/15 Murk Strider
10/14/15 Fertile Thicket
10/15/15 Salvage Drone
10/16/15 Kor Castigator
10/19/15 Blisterpod
10/20/15 Sandstone Bridge
10/21/15 Dutiful Return
10/22/15 Angelic Captain
10/23/15 Spell Shrivel
10/24/15 Munda, Ambush Leader
10/25/15 Wave-Wing Elemental
10/26/15 Fathom Feeder
10/27/15 Encircling Fissure
10/28/15 Halimar Tidecaller
10/29/15 Prism Array
10/30/15 Catacomb Sifter
10/31/15 Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger
11/1/15 Mind Raker
11/2/15 Chasm Guide
11/3/15 Serene Steward
11/4/15 Goblin War Paint
11/5/15 Emeria Shepherd
11/6/15 Nettle Drone
11/7/15 Dispel
11/8/15 Aligned Hedron Network
11/9/15 Unified Front
11/10/15 Silent Skimmer
11/11/15 Eyeless Watcher
11/12/15 Kalastria Healer (Throwback Thrusday)
11/13/15 Makindi Sliderunner
11/14/15 Brilliant Spectrum
11/15/15 Retreat to Hagra
11/16/15 Evolving Wilds
11/17/15 Firemantle Mage
11/18/15 Retreat to Valakut
11/19/15 Guul Draz Overseer
11/20/15 Tide Drifter
11/21/15 Looming Spires
11/22/15 Void Winnower
11/23/15 Skitterskin
11/24/15 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
11/25/15 Mist Intruder
11/26/15 Feed the Clan
11/27/15 Altar's Reap
11/30/15 Ondu Champion
12/1/15 Coralhelm Guide
12/2/15 Incubator Drone
12/3/15 Ondu Greathorn
12/4/15 Unnatural Aggression
12/5/15 Voracious Null
12/6/15 Call the Scions
12/7/15 Serpentine Spike
12/9/15 Felidar Sovereign
12/9/15 Drowner of Hope
12/10/15 Oblivion Sower
12/11/15 Ob Nixilis Reignited
12/12/15 Ulamog's Despoiler
12/14/15 Mire's Malice
12/15/15 Kiora, Master of the Depths
12/16/15 Jaddi Offshoot
12/17/15 Painful Truths
12/18/15 Ulamog's Reclaimer
12/19/15 Clutch of Currents
12/20/15 Grave Birthing
12/21/15 Black Lotus
12/22/15 Tinker
12/23/15 Recurring Nightmare
12/24/15 Gifts Ungiven
12/25/15 Dragonlord Atarka
12/26/15 Zealous Conscripts
12/27/15 Armageddon // Ravages of War
12/28/15 Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
12/29/15 Strip Mine
12/30/15 Wheel of Fortune
12/31/15 Diabolic Tutor
1/1/16 Time Spiral
1/2/16 Mox Emerald // Mox Jet // Mox Pearl // Mox Ruby // Mox Sapphire
1/4/16 Malakir Familiar
1/5/16 Fortified Rampart
1/6/16 Sire of Stagnation
1/7/16 Dominator Drone
1/8/16 Shambling Vent
1/9/16 Kor Bladewhirl
1/11/16 Gruesome Slaughter
1/12/16 Volcanic Upheaval
1/13/16 Part the Waterveil
1/14/14 Rush of Ice
1/15/16 Eldrazi Skyspawner
1/18/16 Wastes
1/19/16 Kozilek, the Great Distortion
1/20/16 Pulse of Murasa
1/21/16 Oath of Nissa
1/22/16 Grasp of Darkness
1/23/16 Gravity Negator
1/24/16 Void Grafter
1/25/16 Call the Gatewatch
1/26/16 Umara Entangler
1/27/15 Shoulder to Shoulder
1/28/16 Flayer Drone
1/29/16 Thought Harvester
1/30/16 Kazuul's Toll Collector
1/31/16 Oath of Gideon
2/1/16 Cliffhaven Vampire
2/2/16 Zada's Commando
2/3/16 Kozilek's Translator
2/4/16 Saddleback Lagac
2/5/16 Gladehart Cavalry
2/6/15 Zulaport Chainmage
2/8/16 Unknown Shores
2/9/16 Pyromancer's Assault
2/10/16 Kor Scythemaster
2/11/16 Reflector Mage
2/12/16 Expedite
2/13/16 Devour in Flames
2/14/16 Sweep Away
2/15/16 Tar Snare
2/16/16 Natural State
2/17/16 Drana's Chosen
2/18/16 Mirrorpool
2/19/16 Roiling Waters
2/20/16 Makindi Aeronaut
2/21/16 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
2/22/16 Munda's Vanguard
2/23/16 Reality Smasher
2/24/15 Bearer of Silence
2/25/16 Chandra, Flamecaller
2/26/16 World Breaker
2/27/16 Linvala, the Preserver
2/28/16 Negate
2/29/16 Maw of Kozilek
3/1/16 Slaughter Drone
3/2/16 Eldrazi Mimic
3/3/16 Jori En, Ruin Diver
3/4/16 Tajuru Pathwarden
3/5-6/16 Cinder Barrens, ]Meandering River, Submerged Boneyard, Timber Gorge, Tranquil Expanse
3/7/16 Bone Saw
3/8/16 Relentless Hunter
3/9/16 Wall of Resurgence
3/10/16 Goblin Freerunner
3/11/16 Essence Depleter
3/12/16 Holdout Settlement
3/13/16 Deceiver of Form
3/14/16 Reality Hemorrhage
3/15/16 Scion Summoner
3/16/16 Ondu War Cleric
3/17/16 Crush of Tentacles
3/18/16 Loam Larva
3/19/16 Mighty Leap
3/20/16 Matter Reshaper
3/21/16 Seer's Lantern
3/22/16 Hedron Alignment
3/23/16 Prophet of Distortion
3/25/16 Lead by Example
3/26/16 Kozilek's Return
3/27/16 Void Shatter
3/28/16 Crumbling Vestige
3/29/16 Vampire Envoy
3/30/16 Steppe Glider
3/31/16 Spawnbinder Mage
4/1/16 http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b460/rai_kerensky/MtGS Humor/unspecified_zps9q2j2hjm.png
4/2/16 Taste for Mayhem
4/3/16 Vedalken Dismisser
My Decks:
EDH: Sygg, River Cutthroat , Road to Scion
Grimgrin, Corpseborn
Modern: Polytokes
IRL: Progenitus Polymorph , Goblins
Just a friendly reminder that I will drive this car off a bridge
All in all, I think Tusker is still fine, but I don't feel nearly as motivated to jump on one that's passed to me as I think I would for an equivalent card in most other sets.
I think it's better in formats where you can be removal heavy so you can control what blocks it. Much worse in limited.
Pretty much this. 4 Toughness basically turns this card into something like Suspend: Arc Lightning. The upside is that it has 6 power; it can generally take out that pesky wall and allow you to break a board stall, but so can Burn Away or, often, Arrow Storm. Of course, there is one strong upside over a removal spell; the chance for massive blowouts.
All in all, I'll take it if I'm in Temur, but not above curve considerations.
My Decks:
EDH: Sygg, River Cutthroat , Road to Scion
Grimgrin, Corpseborn
Modern: Polytokes
IRL: Progenitus Polymorph , Goblins
Just a friendly reminder that I will drive this car off a bridge
If you can cast it, it's going to make your deck. The vulnerability of 4 toughness aside, it's still 6/4 for 5 mana and an OK ability. The main problem with the ability is that it only works on offense.
Using the quadrant theory...
Good in development? No. 5 mana + 3 colors means this is a late game play most of the time. You need to get a little lucky to play it on curve, and it conflicts with Morph costs.
Good in parity? Yes. Even if your opponent's life total is high, he cannot ignore the Tusker while having an untapped creature. If he doesn't have a 4-power creature, his options are don't leave anything untapped, or take a 2-for-1, or you get to eat creatures. If he does have a 4-power creature, it trades 1-for-1. 5 mana for a one-for-one trade of a bigger creature is fine. Unlike most big dumb creatures, he can't be ignored at parity which is big. Tusker also makes your removal better if you can clear out their big blocker and force them into a worse situation.
Good when ahead? Obviously. The best use of the ability is force Tusker to trade with their best blocker, allowing the rest of your team to smash.
Good when behind? Eh. It trades with something big on the ground.
So it's good in 2 quadrants, and OK in another. Seems about right. It's a card you play but don't go out of your way for. Don't be afraid to draft this and then not run if your mana doesn't work out.
Pauper: Burn
Modern: Burn
Legacy: Burn
EDH: Marath, Will of the Wild - Ramp/Combo | Anafenza the Foremost - French | Uril, the Miststalker - Voltron | Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury - Goodstuff
Ghost Council of Orzhov - Tokens | Lazav, Dimir Mastermind - Control | Isamaru, Hound of Konda - Tiny Leaders
He also leaves you less defenseless while you outlast, which is wonderful if he gets to do his thing a few times. Super scary on a stalled board.
The problem is that the repeatable 3-mana investment is a lot, and the card's base stats are terrible if you don't invest at least once, and don't start really getting good until you've paid twice.
I'm not saying it's unplayable; it's going to make the cut in an Abzan deck, BW Warriors, or Mardu Tokens just about every time, but compared to other white Outlast creatures, it's closer to Salt Road Patrol than it is to Abzan Falconer or Abzan Battle Priest, which are both superior.
I think Herald is significantly better on the play than it is on the draw. Still, you want to be throwing down morhps on turn three more than you want to be making a 2/3 and getting a little dude. On another note, I think Herald is better in Mardu than it is in Abzan typically. It fits better into Mardu's wide option whereas Abzan tends to go vertically(?) Is "vertically" a term? Whatever. Everybody gets the point.
Re the Herald, it's a 1 drop that's better in the late game than the early game...which is not a bad thing, but it really tests your judgement in when to outlast.
I think it's a 4/5 in Sealed, and maybe a 3/5 in draft.
I believe it's better in Orzhov rather than Boros, but I won't be too unhappy picking it. Maybe just not as a first pick.
That said, the random card of the day is pretty cool. Perhaps we could make it a card of the week?
UR Melek, Izzet ParagonUR, B Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerB, R Jaya Ballard, Task MageR,RW Tajic, Blade of the LegionRW, UB Lazav, Dimir MastermindUB, UB Circu, Dimir LobotomistUB, RWU Zedruu the GreatheartedRWU, GUBThe MimeoplasmGUB, UGExperiment Kraj UG, WDarien, King of KjeldorW, BMarrow-GnawerB, WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG, UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU, GWUDerevi, Empyrial TacticianGWU, RDaretti, Scrap SavantR, UTalrand, Sky SummonerU, GEzuri, Renegade LeaderG, WUBRGReaper KingWUBRG, RGXenagos, God of RevelsRG, CKozilek, Butcher of TruthC, WUBRGGeneral TazriWUBRG, GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
I p1p2'd this recently, and was passed one around pick 4. Frank Karsten considers it one of the top rares, and I'm not inclined to disagree. A face-down Spellsnatcher is hard to lose with, if you have the mana to back it up.
Which leads me to a question; do you think in KTK is easier to cast than, say (in a three color deck playing those colors?) Maybe it's a silly topic; my brain still needs caffeine.
This was considered. I don't want the forum littered with the sad corpses of RCD discussions. I'll make the first post every day have the card linked, as above. Thanks for the input.
My Decks:
EDH: Sygg, River Cutthroat , Road to Scion
Grimgrin, Corpseborn
Modern: Polytokes
IRL: Progenitus Polymorph , Goblins
Just a friendly reminder that I will drive this car off a bridge
I don't mean make a new thread on the forum. Just another post on this same thread with the new card. Like how they do it in the EDH forum.
But nevermind, it seems you're doing something similar now.
Re Spellsnatcher...definitely first pickable. You'll probably never cast this faced up.
Pauper: Burn
Modern: Burn
Legacy: Burn
EDH: Marath, Will of the Wild - Ramp/Combo | Anafenza the Foremost - French | Uril, the Miststalker - Voltron | Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury - Goodstuff
Ghost Council of Orzhov - Tokens | Lazav, Dimir Mastermind - Control | Isamaru, Hound of Konda - Tiny Leaders
The ability is very expensive, but it can be a complete blowout, and this is a format where it's not uncommon to hold up 6 mana when passing the turn if you have a morph out. The only time that this card really suffers is if you're getting beaten badly enough that your opponent doesn't need to play more spells right away, and/or you can't afford to leave so much mana up.
You're right, the card would probably play nearly exactly the same if it had no hardcasting option. I suppose it might get thrown onto a losing board to jump in front of death for a turn, and a Hill Giant isn't the worst in this format, but you're just losing so much power from the card, I would rather take a loss a keep the information hidden for the next round than just dump it on the board to mise.
I think this is waay off. Maybe the deck was not a good Spellsnatcher deck; I encourage you to try it again. It absolutely locks down any game you can get to parity by turn 7-8 (in an 18-land deck that can reasonably support UU.) Not having to cast that spell immediately (and in fact, unless I'm mistaken, you can cast it later even if Spellsnatcher has left the battlefield) is pretty sweet.
Basically, countering a spell this way is a 2-for-1, making the card on the whole a freakin' 3-for-1. Boom. Eat my shorts, parity.
My Decks:
EDH: Sygg, River Cutthroat , Road to Scion
Grimgrin, Corpseborn
Modern: Polytokes
IRL: Progenitus Polymorph , Goblins
Just a friendly reminder that I will drive this car off a bridge
Now, once the opponent has seen it, they may start trying to play around it by not throwing down bombs if you have six mana open. It's a little bit like a wrath in that way. But, if they're holding back good cards because they're afraid, then good for you! After the first time your opponent sees it, any morph you play is likely to bite the dust in short order if possible, so I suggest being deceptive about when you play him.
Very fun, very good card. 4/5
That's my favorite part about the card! How do you play around her at parity?? By trying to lure your opponent into stealing your second most powerful card? It's still nuts, and if that card is not going to affect the board significantly, it's not gonna work.
Having two in my deck that one time was pure devilry.
My Decks:
EDH: Sygg, River Cutthroat , Road to Scion
Grimgrin, Corpseborn
Modern: Polytokes
IRL: Progenitus Polymorph , Goblins
Just a friendly reminder that I will drive this car off a bridge
The card is in a weird spot for me since it is generally going to be the strongest card in any pack that it is in, but the setup cost is very steep. It's a 9-mana investment (really scary) that nets you a 3-for-1 if you can hold up the requisite mana. Honestly, if I open this, I am praying that there is a Murderous Cut in the pack so I can take that instead. Otherwise, it's a grudging first pick based on power level.
RBGLiving EndRBG
EDH
UFblthpU
BRXantchaRB
BGVarolzGB
URWZedruuWRU
Board - Stalled or Winning
Spellsnatcher - In play
Mana - 4UU open
I felt like I couldn't lose, and I never did from that position. The thing is, it's not trivial getting there.
Playing a face-down morph that you don't want to trade with an x/2 or flip up into something bigger actually sets you back a fair bit, eating up one of your turns and effectively putting you "down a card" for a while. So against an opponent who's actually doing things, you generally have to spend a few turns clawing your way into a winning or stable position, assuming you even can. This also tends to give your opponent a very long window in which to kill the spellsnatcher, though a face-down morph eating a small removal spell is just disappointing, not a real blowout unless it was Mardu Heart Piercer.
It definitely turns games that are already going well for you into games you can't lose, and it's a solid trump for a stalemate. But it doesn't have the ability to single-handedly swing a game that a real bomb does, and I certainly wouldn't take it over premium removal either.
On a purely non-strategic, personal enjoyment scale, though, I love this card.