Alesha, Who Smiles at Death - Name alone is win, but I also think the card has real potential. Brutal Hordechief - With all the token strategies, this guys seems like a winner to me. Mardu Strike Leader - Did someone say tokens? Oh, hi there. Valorous Stance - Kill something big? I like doing that. Nerfing removal? I like doing that. One card that can do both? Sign me up!
Now, beyond my obvious Mardu aggro bias, one of may favorite cards is Temur Sabertooth. I think this guy could be a huge boon for Temur and other G/x monster decks in post sideboard games as he will allow you to deplete their removal resources and reduce the impact of sweepers. The fact that he protects himself while bouncing your dude (or more likely dudes because 2 mana is nothing for many green decks) is what puts him over the top for me.
Believe or not, Wild Slash. Not because of the extra text, but simply because this is one of the few standard formats where a shock can be pretty strong. By triggering prowess, it becomes one of the strongest early options for an aggressive Jeskai deck. It can't always be used as removal, but it still has enough quality targets to let a deck dominate the early game. Furthermore, it is quick in a format of very slow removal and can gain incredible tempo early on
Torrent elemental is good in sultai whip.
5 mana recurring creature as well as delve fodder increases the amount of creature u can play that's not soul flayer.
It also makes abzan charm and hero's downfall essentially useless in a grinding match.
Because it's instant speed and can steal counters from other people's creatures it has to cost something.
I think Torrent Elemental is rated highly because it interacts favorably with whip and delve, though a bit annoying that it comes back from exile tapped. I'm a bit of a skeptic.
The main card I'm excited for is Tasigur, the Golden Fang, though also a bit interested in trying Ugin in a G devotion shell.
Because it's instant speed and can steal counters from other people's creatures it has to cost something.
OK so maybe it costs 1 and lets you move up to 2 counters or something. Even then I don't think he would see serious play in any formats. Just seems like an amazingly overcosted, ultra situational ability. Limited bomb though.
Because it's instant speed and can steal counters from other people's creatures it has to cost something.
OK so maybe it costs 1 and lets you move up to 2 counters or something. Even then I don't think he would see serious play in any formats. Just seems like an amazingly overcosted, ultra situational ability. Limited bomb though.
I'm iffy Daghatar's ability, but it's under cost at 2; I think he suffers from not being able to pay 2.5 mana, but paying 5 for 2 counters is just too awkward.
If his ability cost 1, he'd see play. He could then move +1/+1s around too easily to advantage your board. Combat in this meta has frequently been a question of 1 toughness. Rhino loses to Polukranos by 1 toughness, Courser to Rhino by 1 toughness, etc. That 3 mana may be more balanced than anticipated.
The wording on Hardened Scales is worth rereading now that he is around.
7/7 for 5 in green/white? you could be casting polukranos or wingmate roc or siege rhino or something else that actually affects the board/generates value.
Big dumb beaters don't see play for a very good reason.
If the bolster ability happened on ETB i miiiight be able to see an argument for this cuz at least the counters go on your courser or whatever. but as-is, you cast, he gets chained to the rocks or downfalled or whatever, and your opponent then proceeds to kill you.
If his ability cost 1, he'd see play. He could then move +1/+1s around too easily to advantage your board. Combat in this meta has frequently been a question of 1 toughness. Rhino loses to Polukranos by 1 toughness, Courser to Rhino by 1 toughness, etc. That 3 mana may be more balanced than anticipated.
7/7 for 5 in green/white? you could be casting polukranos or wingmate roc or siege rhino or something else that actually affects the board/generates value.
Big dumb beaters don't see play for a very good reason.
If the bolster ability happened on ETB i miiiight be able to see an argument for this cuz at least the counters go on your courser or whatever. but as-is, you cast, he gets chained to the rocks or downfalled or whatever, and your opponent then proceeds to kill you.
I won't even give the benefit of saying a 7/7 for 5 mana, Bolster is frustrating to me in that regard, and that's also implying your board is basically empty when she attacks. However, you're relying on the "dies to removal" argument, and no one really enjoys hearing that. I'm not saying a 5/5 flying won't often get removed, I'm saying something has to stick to your board at some point; plenty of things stick often enough to attack a couple times or even win, why not a dragon? Taking a look at Mardu Midrange is rather telling of this; even Abzan decks before FRF are rocking just Caryatid as a "resilient" creature (not even as an attacker) in most cases.
Plenty of things don't have resilience but they still kill opponents. We both know this is true. I think the best argument is that you can do better things with 5 mana. The goal (and the fun) is making her worth the 5 mana; which, as is likely your point, very hard to do.
Oh, I'm aware, but my point was that he derives more value from Scales. Retribution is only usable if you can reliably generate a small amount of counters regularly.
What are your top cards?
I'm going to go with:
Brutal Hordechief - With all the token strategies, this guys seems like a winner to me.
Mardu Strike Leader - Did someone say tokens? Oh, hi there.
Valorous Stance - Kill something big? I like doing that. Nerfing removal? I like doing that. One card that can do both? Sign me up!
Now, beyond my obvious Mardu aggro bias, one of may favorite cards is Temur Sabertooth. I think this guy could be a huge boon for Temur and other G/x monster decks in post sideboard games as he will allow you to deplete their removal resources and reduce the impact of sweepers. The fact that he protects himself while bouncing your dude (or more likely dudes because 2 mana is nothing for many green decks) is what puts him over the top for me.
D
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I'll also chase shaman of the great hunt, monastery mentor and valorous stance. I'll be playing either RDW, R/W Aggro or R/G monsters/aggro.
Personally I like the card more than most and see it being mush better than the UB Dragon, not that that's saying much though.
5 mana recurring creature as well as delve fodder increases the amount of creature u can play that's not soul flayer.
It also makes abzan charm and hero's downfall essentially useless in a grinding match.
Torrent Elemental is my pick for top card.
2) Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
3) Whisperwood Elemental (Underrated Mythic : He is very good card - Anti-Board Wipe)
4) Brutal Hordechief
5) Wild Slash
6) Dromoka, the Eternal (Sleeper IMHO)
7) Valorous stance
8) Tasigur, the Golden Fang
9) Mastery of the Unseen (Sleeper IMHO : Very Good in UW Control OR Abzan Manifest : similar to White God but better CMC. )
10)Soulfire Grand Master
1) Daghatar, the Adamant
2) Warden of the First Tree
3) Mardu Scout
4) Humble Defector
5) Reality Shift
6) Soul Summons
Modern: RW Burn
Pressure Point
Ethereal Ambush
What can I say? I like prowess and small combat tricks.
1. Ugin, the spirit dragon
2. Crux of fate
3. Silugmar, the drifting death
4. Monastery Siege
All cards which testing have shown to be great in UB control. Monastery siege is Sideboard tech against the burn decks as well as jeksai tokens
2) Crux of fate - Not Damnation but will get the job done
3) Reality Shift - Get them now I know it's uncommon but this card is going to see a lot of play
4) Mardu Strike Leader - Black version of Goblin Rabblemaster
5) Archfiend of Depravity - Sleeper pick. It's in a precon like Hornet Queen so it's not going to be worth much but I do think this card will see play
Care to say why? He's a black Hellrider that also gains you life.
Personally, I'd say
URW Control
WBG Abzan
GRW Burn
EDH
GR Rosheen Meanderer
Because it's instant speed and can steal counters from other people's creatures it has to cost something.
I think Torrent Elemental is rated highly because it interacts favorably with whip and delve, though a bit annoying that it comes back from exile tapped. I'm a bit of a skeptic.
The main card I'm excited for is Tasigur, the Golden Fang, though also a bit interested in trying Ugin in a G devotion shell.
Best rares:
OK so maybe it costs 1 and lets you move up to 2 counters or something. Even then I don't think he would see serious play in any formats. Just seems like an amazingly overcosted, ultra situational ability. Limited bomb though.
I'm excited for Dromoka, the Eternal and Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest.
If his ability cost 1, he'd see play. He could then move +1/+1s around too easily to advantage your board. Combat in this meta has frequently been a question of 1 toughness. Rhino loses to Polukranos by 1 toughness, Courser to Rhino by 1 toughness, etc. That 3 mana may be more balanced than anticipated.
The wording on Hardened Scales is worth rereading now that he is around.
"Reveal a Dragon"
7/7 for 5 in green/white? you could be casting polukranos or wingmate roc or siege rhino or something else that actually affects the board/generates value.
Big dumb beaters don't see play for a very good reason.
If the bolster ability happened on ETB i miiiight be able to see an argument for this cuz at least the counters go on your courser or whatever. but as-is, you cast, he gets chained to the rocks or downfalled or whatever, and your opponent then proceeds to kill you.
Retribution of the Ancients does something very similar for 1 mana.
I won't even give the benefit of saying a 7/7 for 5 mana, Bolster is frustrating to me in that regard, and that's also implying your board is basically empty when she attacks. However, you're relying on the "dies to removal" argument, and no one really enjoys hearing that. I'm not saying a 5/5 flying won't often get removed, I'm saying something has to stick to your board at some point; plenty of things stick often enough to attack a couple times or even win, why not a dragon? Taking a look at Mardu Midrange is rather telling of this; even Abzan decks before FRF are rocking just Caryatid as a "resilient" creature (not even as an attacker) in most cases.
Plenty of things don't have resilience but they still kill opponents. We both know this is true. I think the best argument is that you can do better things with 5 mana. The goal (and the fun) is making her worth the 5 mana; which, as is likely your point, very hard to do.
Oh, I'm aware, but my point was that he derives more value from Scales. Retribution is only usable if you can reliably generate a small amount of counters regularly.
"Reveal a Dragon"