What do you think about Desecration Demon in limited? I'm thinking in "the" Rakdos deck, you'll end up being able to swing with the demon pretty often. I'm thinking that otherwise, however, this is not a strong card.
I realize we have very little information on the set to work with, but I'm interested in hearing some thoughts on the card anyway.
These kinds of things are always pretty insane in limited. I don't know if it's a first-pick (partially because none of the cards are out, really), but I can't imagine it will be too bad.
It having flying is mostly irrelevant, since any creature can "block" it, but it's still a 6/6 for 4 with essentially no drawback. That's not easy to deal with. We know at least two high quality removal spells in the format will fail to kill this thing (at least on their own); even if every other high-pick removal in the set kills it, that still probably makes it pretty resilient.
It's a pretty bad blocker, just because your opponent can tap it before he attacks. It'll effectively "block" the worst creature your opponent has. So it's terrible as a card to stabilize. I dunno. Definitely lower impact than it looks at first blush, and I can imagine plenty of decks where this would be a priority to side out. But it's strong enough on offense that I think it's a high pick anyway for pretty much any black deck. If it turns out that token swarming is a very strong strategy, then maybe this won't be worth it. But I'm betting on Selesnya to be the weakest guild in the set right now.
Wit's End is the PERFECT answer to your opponent's Monomania however.
Just hold on to your Wit's End when they Monomania, so you can Wit's End them on your next turn!!!
I think this is fairly reminiscent of the "Jace Battles" we have seen in past standards.. My guess is we will soon witness the great Monomania-Wit's End battles.
I'd first pick this without hesitation, assuming B/X is playable.
(The Rakdos playstyle I'm expecting based on how Unleash is designed is not something I'm fond of, so it's possible I'll be avoiding Black a bit... we'll see.)
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Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
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<Limited Clan>
Seems pretty solid. I mean in the most general case he should be The Abyss, and if your opponent is giving up a creature every turn to hold this guy at bay you're usually in very good shape. Obviously there's situations where they can tap him and alpha strike you to death but in general if you have any sort of board parity he should run away with games.
I'm guessing this will be an automatic first pick. There's no way any common will be better, and maybe a couple of uncommons might come close.
Even against Selesnya, you're still taking away their ability to grow an army, so it's not terrible. Against other colors, it demands removal. You're not beating this card by stalling. You're simply going to run out of creatures to tap it down.
This card seems designed for multiplayer, but in a way that makes it insane in 2-player. In multiplayer it creates an interesting dynamic of who is going to take the hit to tap the Demon.
I'm guessing this will be an automatic first pick. There's no way any common will be better, and maybe a couple of uncommons might come close.
Even against Selesnya, you're still taking away their ability to grow an army, so it's not terrible. Against other colors, it demands removal. You're not beating this card by stalling. You're simply going to run out of creatures to tap it down.
This card seems designed for multiplayer, but in a way that makes it insane in 2-player. In multiplayer it creates an interesting dynamic of who is going to take the hit to tap the Demon.
He's a 6/6 that can be chump blocked by any creature (even tapped ones!), and can be provoked by any of your opponent's creatures. He is definitely above the curve at 4, like SERIOUSLY above the curve, but that doesn't make him first pickable. I would pick awesome unconditional removal, akin to murder or pacifism instead of him. Both of those deal with this dude permanently.
This guy is a skill tester. Everyone wants to say "one sided abyss" but that's any fatty with no trample attacking every turn. Which you definitely should be doing with this guy, he's terrible to block with.
He's powerful, but don't go thinking this is the best card in the set hands down. there are going to be way more powerful limited first picks.
Yeah, I can't imagine calling this an automatic first pick. It isn't better than a vanilla 6/6 at any point in the game, and can be significantly worse. Granted, it's a 4-mana 6/6 and that's huge, but it isn't a bomb. It's just a good card in decks that want it, and way worse than it looks like it should be otherwise.
Wit's End is the PERFECT answer to your opponent's Monomania however.
Just hold on to your Wit's End when they Monomania, so you can Wit's End them on your next turn!!!
I think this is fairly reminiscent of the "Jace Battles" we have seen in past standards.. My guess is we will soon witness the great Monomania-Wit's End battles.
Seems questionable against some decks. I can see it being laughable against g/w populate decks. Against grindy decks with few creatures this could end games before they've begun.
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Highest DCI Total Rating: 2041
Highest DCI Limited Rating: 2022
I was playing a draft the second week up avacyn being out and i was constructing my deck when the guy across from me spilled his cherry kool-aid all over mine and his cards, he had a griselbrand and I had a cavern of souls.
OK I retract my earlier comment that it's an easy first pick. Thanks to those of you that pointed out the ability means it can be chump blocked by literally any creature -- including ones that are tapped.
I don't think I've seen a rare in the set that isn't first pickable yet. Well... maybe not Guild Feud or Death's Presence. But nine times out of ten, it's going to be a case of open pack, take rare.
How are you guys even questioning this. Its a slam pick p1p1, no questions asked. It also says "each combat" So the turn you play it, if they want to attack, they have to sac a creature and if the print a card that says "untap target creature" man oh man would that be insane
It's quite close to being a (ground) 6/6 for 4 mana that attacks each turn if able.
It obviously doesn't play out quite the same way (it can block flyers on the first turn, it can be tapped on the first turn, it grows whenever it is "chumped" by a nonflyer, it can be "chumped" by tapped or unleashed creatures, on turns that you wish you could hold it back they can't choose to take the damage, etc.) but I think it is close enough that it should be evaluated similarly.
I think it is efficiently costed enough that every deck will play it and be happy about it. Most decks in any format would play a 4-mana 6/6 with a soft drawback.
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I realize we have very little information on the set to work with, but I'm interested in hearing some thoughts on the card anyway.
*DCI Rules Advisor*
It's a pretty bad blocker, just because your opponent can tap it before he attacks. It'll effectively "block" the worst creature your opponent has. So it's terrible as a card to stabilize. I dunno. Definitely lower impact than it looks at first blush, and I can imagine plenty of decks where this would be a priority to side out. But it's strong enough on offense that I think it's a high pick anyway for pretty much any black deck. If it turns out that token swarming is a very strong strategy, then maybe this won't be worth it. But I'm betting on Selesnya to be the weakest guild in the set right now.
(The Rakdos playstyle I'm expecting based on how Unleash is designed is not something I'm fond of, so it's possible I'll be avoiding Black a bit... we'll see.)
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
The demon is still easy 1st pick. With 6/6 body, it is definitely a bomb.
If you have 1 in your deck, just remember to trade creatures early for pure benefit later.
Even against Selesnya, you're still taking away their ability to grow an army, so it's not terrible. Against other colors, it demands removal. You're not beating this card by stalling. You're simply going to run out of creatures to tap it down.
This card seems designed for multiplayer, but in a way that makes it insane in 2-player. In multiplayer it creates an interesting dynamic of who is going to take the hit to tap the Demon.
He's a 6/6 that can be chump blocked by any creature (even tapped ones!), and can be provoked by any of your opponent's creatures. He is definitely above the curve at 4, like SERIOUSLY above the curve, but that doesn't make him first pickable. I would pick awesome unconditional removal, akin to murder or pacifism instead of him. Both of those deal with this dude permanently.
This guy is a skill tester. Everyone wants to say "one sided abyss" but that's any fatty with no trample attacking every turn. Which you definitely should be doing with this guy, he's terrible to block with.
He's powerful, but don't go thinking this is the best card in the set hands down. there are going to be way more powerful limited first picks.
Highest DCI Limited Rating: 2022
It's a very cleverly designed card.
The point of chumping is often to buy time until you find an answer. Here, "chumping" makes finding an answer harder.
Practice for Khans of Tarkir Limited:
Draft: (#1) (#2) (#3) (#4) (#5)
It obviously doesn't play out quite the same way (it can block flyers on the first turn, it can be tapped on the first turn, it grows whenever it is "chumped" by a nonflyer, it can be "chumped" by tapped or unleashed creatures, on turns that you wish you could hold it back they can't choose to take the damage, etc.) but I think it is close enough that it should be evaluated similarly.
I think it is efficiently costed enough that every deck will play it and be happy about it. Most decks in any format would play a 4-mana 6/6 with a soft drawback.