In fairness, non-creature spells were too good for a long, long time. We still do get broken spells on occasion too, as the recent Delve exploits would attest.
Re-read my post, guys. I don't you're really disputing me (nor do I think we actually have a point of contention). Back on topic...
Regarding the 5 drop slot in Red and this guy's place in it: I think this is yet another case of personal pref and YMMW. I personally don't care for SGC or Conscripts (mostly because they don't combo with enough of my format to feel particularly exciting). So for me this guy is easily slotted in as another value dragon that passes the Vindicate/Terminate test. (I also run a decently sized and fairly unorthodox list, so there's that.) But I definitely think he should be considered, just like we all looked at Goblin Dark-Dwellers and other new red 5s as they came out. And yeah, he's way closer than people are giving him credit for IMO.
If we're talking solid 5 drops in red what about dominus of fealty. Granted it's hybrid with blue but it's still a solid card. 4/4 flier and at the start of your upkeep you can gain control of a creature they control for the turn. That paired with with something like curse of bloodletting can be a monster.
As someone who had to learn the hard way about color intensity hurting a format, I can tell you right now no one gonna run a 5 mana card with that degree of color intensity. Cards like Advent of the Wurm and Armada Wurm are routinely dismissed in these parts for similar reasons.
Can we still claim that creature creep is legitimately a thing when the power level of most new bodies is equal to or worse than the Zendikar-Scars days? (I'm asking honestly.) I feel like creature creep just ramped up around the early part of this decade and then tapered off around Ravnica. Right now, power-wise, creatures are kinda running in place. There's still great new bodies, don't get me wrong; I just don't think we can legitimately call it "power creep" anymore.
I do actually agree with that, things got a little crazy in Scars block and the surrounding environment. The flagship of it to me is Thragtusk. Putting powerful abilities as ETB is one thing - I kind of like that they're trying to mix things up a bit with a blend of activated and triggered abilities, ETB and on-cast triggers, and dies triggers - but having an unavoidable LTB as well is just insulting.
I would rather have this effect on a cc7+ fattie with higher stats and more abilities.
Imagine if this guy was a 7CMC 4/4 flyer that also made two 4/4 dragons on ETB with this Zada ish ability. That is something I could get behind.
As it is we have another solid red 5 drop that will be better in some cubes than others depending on your mix and your groups likes. This only 5 drop that really stands out to me is Thundermaw, the rest all have a case to be made but I wouldn't expect them if I were drafting someone else's cube.
Can we still claim that creature creep is legitimately a thing when the power level of most new bodies is equal to or worse than the Zendikar-Scars days? (I'm asking honestly.) I feel like creature creep just ramped up around the early part of this decade and then tapered off around Ravnica. Right now, power-wise, creatures are kinda running in place. There's still great new bodies, don't get me wrong; I just don't think we can legitimately call it "power creep" anymore.
Here's my 2 cents...
It's sort of like the price of gas (in the US anyway). It went up over $4.00, people flipped out, and then dropped to right around $3.00 and it's been there awhile. Long enough to where people think $3.00 is cheap now. When it used to be $1.00 and probably should be closer to $2.00 today but because it's not $4.00 anymore, no one really cares.
There was power creep and then we all got used to it. That is what basically happened. People are welcome to say we don't have power creep anymore just like they are welcome to say $3.00 for a gallon of gas is a great deal. Depending on the context, neither opinion is wrong necessarily.
I like Stormbreath Dragon better as the second five drop midrange dragon. Hexproof this is not.
Hexproof this certainly is not, but in some instances this is considerably better than hexproof. The other thing to keep in mind is this is a red card. How often does red get a solid beater with any sort of decent removal protection? This is a unique card. I would rather have a solid unique card that allows different deck building options than a slightly better card that is just more of the same that already exists in the card pool.
For the instances where it is better than hexproof: The way it interacts with beneficial spells, allows your opponent to benefit almost as much as you.
E.g. you can cast a Mutagenic Growth on him to pump your whole team for an alpha strike, but your opponent can do the same. He has to pump your dragon too, but that might be irrelevant, if he has several creatures that push lethal damage through. Yolo with Berserk! Or if they Snakeform your dragon, they draw a card plus one for each creature they control. Wildsize could be a nice combo, if anyone's running that, but again, if your opponent is the one playing it, he will thank you very much.
Oh, and I just realized, he's vulnerable to 187 guys and all triggered and activated abilities. Booo.
It's a cool card and a fun effect, but on powerlevel alone I don't think it's good enough. The protection is half-baked, and the benefit is kinda symmetrical.
I like Stormbreath Dragon better as the second five drop midrange dragon. Hexproof this is not.
Hexproof this certainly is not, but in some instances this is considerably better than hexproof. The other thing to keep in mind is this is a red card. How often does red get a solid beater with any sort of decent removal protection? This is a unique card. I would rather have a solid unique card that allows different deck building options than a slightly better card that is just more of the same that already exists in the card pool.
Stormbreath has protection from white, very decent removal protection. He kills players and planeswalkers much more quickly. That is even without looking at the monstrous ability which is easily achievable for ramp decks and slow matches. The only card that functions similarly in cube is Thundermaw Hellkite so I do not think this effect is saturated.
I doubt people would build a deck around Mirrorwing. Combat tricks are rare, the dragon is fragile and it is underpowered for the trouble you have to get through.
On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
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Regarding the 5 drop slot in Red and this guy's place in it: I think this is yet another case of personal pref and YMMW. I personally don't care for SGC or Conscripts (mostly because they don't combo with enough of my format to feel particularly exciting). So for me this guy is easily slotted in as another value dragon that passes the Vindicate/Terminate test. (I also run a decently sized and fairly unorthodox list, so there's that.) But I definitely think he should be considered, just like we all looked at Goblin Dark-Dwellers and other new red 5s as they came out. And yeah, he's way closer than people are giving him credit for IMO.
As someone who had to learn the hard way about color intensity hurting a format, I can tell you right now no one gonna run a 5 mana card with that degree of color intensity. Cards like Advent of the Wurm and Armada Wurm are routinely dismissed in these parts for similar reasons.
I'm officially proposing we retire the word "insane" from the MtG vocabulary.
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I do actually agree with that, things got a little crazy in Scars block and the surrounding environment. The flagship of it to me is Thragtusk. Putting powerful abilities as ETB is one thing - I kind of like that they're trying to mix things up a bit with a blend of activated and triggered abilities, ETB and on-cast triggers, and dies triggers - but having an unavoidable LTB as well is just insulting.
On spoiled card wishlisting and 'should-have-had'-isms:
Imagine if this guy was a 7CMC 4/4 flyer that also made two 4/4 dragons on ETB with this Zada ish ability. That is something I could get behind.
As it is we have another solid red 5 drop that will be better in some cubes than others depending on your mix and your groups likes. This only 5 drop that really stands out to me is Thundermaw, the rest all have a case to be made but I wouldn't expect them if I were drafting someone else's cube.
Here's my 2 cents...
It's sort of like the price of gas (in the US anyway). It went up over $4.00, people flipped out, and then dropped to right around $3.00 and it's been there awhile. Long enough to where people think $3.00 is cheap now. When it used to be $1.00 and probably should be closer to $2.00 today but because it's not $4.00 anymore, no one really cares.
There was power creep and then we all got used to it. That is what basically happened. People are welcome to say we don't have power creep anymore just like they are welcome to say $3.00 for a gallon of gas is a great deal. Depending on the context, neither opinion is wrong necessarily.
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Hexproof this certainly is not, but in some instances this is considerably better than hexproof. The other thing to keep in mind is this is a red card. How often does red get a solid beater with any sort of decent removal protection? This is a unique card. I would rather have a solid unique card that allows different deck building options than a slightly better card that is just more of the same that already exists in the card pool.
E.g. you can cast a Mutagenic Growth on him to pump your whole team for an alpha strike, but your opponent can do the same. He has to pump your dragon too, but that might be irrelevant, if he has several creatures that push lethal damage through. Yolo with Berserk! Or if they Snakeform your dragon, they draw a card plus one for each creature they control. Wildsize could be a nice combo, if anyone's running that, but again, if your opponent is the one playing it, he will thank you very much.
Oh, and I just realized, he's vulnerable to 187 guys and all triggered and activated abilities. Booo.
It's a cool card and a fun effect, but on powerlevel alone I don't think it's good enough. The protection is half-baked, and the benefit is kinda symmetrical.
Stormbreath has protection from white, very decent removal protection. He kills players and planeswalkers much more quickly. That is even without looking at the monstrous ability which is easily achievable for ramp decks and slow matches. The only card that functions similarly in cube is Thundermaw Hellkite so I do not think this effect is saturated.
I doubt people would build a deck around Mirrorwing. Combat tricks are rare, the dragon is fragile and it is underpowered for the trouble you have to get through.
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