So besides being invader zim's favorite new toy, I think this may be one of the best finishers coming to standard. Not quite the powerhouse of Wurmcoil Engine but close. It is playable in every deck, 9/10 it does at least 6 damage, you can do some very cool tricks with it to power out damage. I know everyone is comparing it to Soul of New Phyrexia, but I think the doom engine in much more solid and will see more play. Soul has trample, but is vulnerable. How many times do you have 5 mana free outside of control decks?
Thoughts?
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I think Ruric-Tar, the Unbowed is the closest comparison. R-T saw moderate play in block and fringe play in Standard. SDE has the advantage of being colourless but doesn't give you the bonus of shutting down Stormbreath Dragon (pre-Monstrous). SDE has the advantage of punishing killing it through creature combat but doesn't punish the opponent for casting planeswalkers. Overall, about equal IMO - SDE may be a little better overall. (I don't see any decks other than RG monsters at the moment that want a 6 drop that isn't Elspeth, no matter how good it is).
Of course, someone will live the dream - attack with SDE, then after combat sacrifice it to cast Shrapnel Blast.
I think Ruric-Tar, the Unbowed is the closest comparison. R-T saw moderate play in block and fringe play in Standard. SDE has the advantage of being colourless but doesn't give you the bonus of shutting down Stormbreath Dragon (pre-Monstrous). SDE has the advantage of punishing killing it through creature combat but doesn't punish the opponent for casting planeswalkers. Overall, about equal IMO - SDE may be a little better overall. (I don't see any decks other than RG monsters at the moment that want a 6 drop that isn't Elspeth, no matter how good it is).
Of course, someone will live the dream - attack with SDE, then after combat sacrifice it to cast Shrapnel Blast.
See the affinity deck in this forum
There is more to SDE than that I think. Can't board wipe him easily. Can't chump block him (he hoses elspeth btw). And if you kill him he either punishes your or your planes walkers. In a G/B ramp deck he can have fun shenanigans with Garruk's -3. Gain 6 life and do 6 damage. Win!
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@complexplans: He doesn't really hose Elspeth. She can kill him, and while doing so allows it to kill her when it dies, a 1-for-1 trade at the same mana cost is far from a hose. He is good for getting in the last points of damage though, and I tested against an artifact deck yesterday that had it out on t4 and attacked/shrapnel blasted for 17 on t5. Being able to avoid chump blockers is quite powerful.
However, I do think that RG monsters would prefer Soul of New Phyrexia, simply because at that point in the game, they DO have the mana to spare. They can keep five up and still cast creatures, and don't have to worry about overextending because Soul can essentially counter a Verdict. Even if the opponent can remove Soul right away, the graveyard activation later can stop a key removal spell or a Verdict (though as its easy to see a decent opponent will try to force you to use it or tap enough mana that you can't before casting a Verdict.
When i saw the name SCUTTLING DOOM ENGINE i knew i wanted to play it regardless of its abilities. Then to see that it was actually playable made it even better. Unfortunately it seems that this guys home is in a deck that wants to 1) get past chump blockers and 2) deal the last few points of damage. Im looking at you RDW. I would love to be proven wrong because i haven't played a mountain since casting Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker in standard.
I think it's one of the three best new cards in M15 (along with Ensoul Artifact and Hushwing Gryff) and will see plenty of play. I had been looking at it being a component of a U/R deck, but Rhandall's idea is good as well.
I see Scuttling Doom Engine being incredibly powerful.
I think we also need to focus less on the death trigger, because to me that's just icing on the cake.
"Scuttling Doom Engine can't be blocked by creatures with power 2 or less."
You guys, this ability is insane.
Think about current Standard. What cards are used all over the place?
also
Pretty much a 1-card answer to Elspeth, Sun's Champion(!!!). You can argue "blah blah 1 for 1", but 1 for 1-ing UW Control's wincon with a single creature is pretty awesome.
Finally, this is not a super big thing, but it subtly makes Doom Engine that much better. Post-rotation the land base will be Pains and Temples. Temples slow the pace of the game allowing 6 drops to be more reasonably played, and the pains make the Doom Engine's (practically unavoidable) 6 damage that much more powerful.
In the context of Standard right now, I'm super hyped on this card.
I think he is better that Polukranos, World Eater, at least in this deck. The main reason being, a turn 4 drop is not uncommon and I think he will do more damage than polukranos. Turn 3 is also a possibility.
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This card "counters" Elspeth in more ways than just as a 1 for one trade - it also swings past tokens.
This isn't a super powerful card, but it is an extremely versitile one that people should keep their eyes on. It makes combat a headache for your opponent and practically guarantees 6 damage once it hits the board.
Just because I love Hunter's Prowess so much, I'm going to love casting on this guy and demanding the opponent have an answer. Use spot removal and lose 6 life or scoop?
This guy looks incredibly powerful. The only sad thing is that he gets answered by Banishing Light, Unravel the Aether, Devouring Light, and anything else that can exile it. This looks incredibly powerful against alot of decks, but the right answers make this guy not so scary. (Although, any card can be answered with the right tools, so this argument isn't too huge. My Selesnya Midrange standard hasn't had trouble with him yet.)
I see him being best in any deck that can give him haste, Generator Servant or Hammer of Purphoros, which makes him a whole lot scarier, and completely unexpected. Your opponent throws out elspeth to make a wall of tokens? Hit it with a hasty SDE and watch their jaw drop.
One deck he does shine against is Monoblack devotion at least. And some of the pro's admit that if they can't exile it, they'd probably just kill it and take 6.
Thoughts?
Of course, someone will live the dream - attack with SDE, then after combat sacrifice it to cast Shrapnel Blast.
See the affinity deck in this forum
There is more to SDE than that I think. Can't board wipe him easily. Can't chump block him (he hoses elspeth btw). And if you kill him he either punishes your or your planes walkers. In a G/B ramp deck he can have fun shenanigans with Garruk's -3. Gain 6 life and do 6 damage. Win!
However, I do think that RG monsters would prefer Soul of New Phyrexia, simply because at that point in the game, they DO have the mana to spare. They can keep five up and still cast creatures, and don't have to worry about overextending because Soul can essentially counter a Verdict. Even if the opponent can remove Soul right away, the graveyard activation later can stop a key removal spell or a Verdict (though as its easy to see a decent opponent will try to force you to use it or tap enough mana that you can't before casting a Verdict.
I think he is better that Polukranos, World Eater, at least in this deck. The main reason being, a turn 4 drop is not uncommon and I think he will do more damage than polukranos. Turn 3 is also a possibility.
This isn't a super powerful card, but it is an extremely versitile one that people should keep their eyes on. It makes combat a headache for your opponent and practically guarantees 6 damage once it hits the board.
I see him being best in any deck that can give him haste, Generator Servant or Hammer of Purphoros, which makes him a whole lot scarier, and completely unexpected. Your opponent throws out elspeth to make a wall of tokens? Hit it with a hasty SDE and watch their jaw drop.
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