MTG Salvation

just to clarify,

abilities which cost mana to activate will still take damage from this? such as manlands being payed to activate?

Yes. Mana abilities are ones that directly produce mana, not ones that require mana.

With around 100 cards of my 360 affected by this, I think it's going to need some testing. Lightning Mauler is likely to ride the pine.

I think Harsh Mentor's cube success will vary widely depending on each cube and more specifically each match up. I think it's a powerful ability and is worth testing but if he becomes strictly sideboard material he won't stay.

Very good against Mom, Arbor Elf, looters (Encrave Cryptologist!) and walking ballista.

This card is actually sick.

I misread the card, so not really 100 cards, but Meloku, Maze of Ith, Mother of Runes, manlands, Enclave Cryptologist/baby Jace (DFC, creature-side), Vedalken Shackles, Volrath's Stronghold, Pack Rat, Recurring Nightmare, Sneak Attack, every equipment, Greater Gargadon, fetchlands, Rishadan Port, Siege-Gang Commander, Fauna Shaman, Library of Alexandria, Umezawa's Jitte, Sensei's Divining Top...etc. Seems good for a 1R investment.

I mean...not to mention a lot of those cards are better the more you use them (Meloku, baby Jace, Pack Rat, Port, Library, Jitte, SDT).

Quote from 6jerfz »

This card is actually sick.

I misread the card, so not really 100 cards, but Meloku, Maze of Ith, Mother of Runes, manlands, Enclave Cryptologist/baby Jace (DFC, creature-side), Vedalken Shackles, Volrath's Stronghold, Pack Rat, Recurring Nightmare, Sneak Attack, every equipment, Greater Gargadon, fetchlands, Rishadan Port, Siege-Gang Commander, Fauna Shaman, Library of Alexandria, Umezawa's Jitte, Sensei's Divining Top...etc. Seems good for a 1R investment.

I mean...not to mention a lot of those cards are better the more you use them (Meloku, baby Jace, Pack Rat, Port, Library, Jitte, SDT).

Just because Harsh Mentor hits something doesn't mean it's good against it. Vedalken Shackles is a good example. Sure they will take two damage but your opponent should be able to play around the Mentor (probably just by taking it, using it against you then chump blocking). Testing should be interesting.

Everyone shut down Samut because it dies to removal? Does this also not just get ploughed or path'd on sight?

fwiw I love this card and will be testing it for sure.

Quote from Ace_Stevo »

Everyone shut down Samut because it dies to removal? Does this also not just get ploughed or path'd on sight?

Um, creatures that cost 1R aren't held to the same standards as creatures that cost 3RG...

I really like this creature. I've long been bored with the old 3/2s for 2, even if they can make a solid backbone for rdw. Abilities that help you give you reach by adding complexity to your opponent's decisions are welcome in my cube.

Quote from Blue_Oneironaut »

I really like this creature. I've long been bored with the old 3/2s for 2, even if they can make a solid backbone for rdw. Abilities that help you give you reach by adding complexity to your opponent's decisions are welcome in my cube.

I figure if the mentor deals damage once a game it outs it on par with the gang of 3/2s . And the ceiling is much higher.

Quote from Ace_Stevo »

Everyone shut down Samut because it dies to removal? Does this also not just get ploughed or path'd on sight?

What's the point? Both evaluation aren't comparable at all. Seriously, can you name more than five or six 2-drops that pass the blade test? Expect some stuff in the white section, Snapcaster Mage (not really a 2-drop anyway) and recursive stuff, I don't see anything...

It's a lot worse when your five Mana investment gets trumped by a one or two Mana card than it is when your two drop suffers the same fate.

Quote from wtwlf123 »

Quote from Ace_Stevo »

Everyone shut down Samut because it dies to removal? Does this also not just get ploughed or path'd on sight?

Um, creatures that cost 1R aren't held to the same standards as creatures that cost 3RG...

Ahhh! Ok, thanks for the clarification!

@TorontoJack, I didn't really need that clarification, I understand the distinction...but thanks? This card has a high ceiling and for 1R and I'm excited to use it.

I'm also excited for the card and I hope it plays well. My comment wasn't directed strictly at you, I was just using your comment to illustrate my point.

I think to test this card you need to play against it more than actually play it yourself. Sort of like thalia, its hard to see how much work she does if you play her, but if you face against her you realize how much of a pain she is.

Quote from allred123 »

I think to test this card you need to play against it more than actually play it yourself. Sort of like thalia, its hard to see how much work she does if you play her, but if you face against her you realize how much of a pain she is.

Exactly this. I was going to make this point in my article, but I'll throw you a shout-out for bringing it up here.

I was trying to pre-order this guy but was OOS everywhere that had it foil for $20. Best I can find now is $30, which seems high. Any input as to whether or not this will settle closer to one value or the other?

I have no idea. It seems like it'll be valuable in a handful of constructed metas, but I don't know if it's $30 foil strong...

if it finds a home in standard it will probably be a $20 foil. if it doesn't it will probably be a $10 foil or less.

Quote from Visserdrix »

if it finds a home in standard it will probably be a $20 foil. if it doesn't it will probably be a $10 foil or less.

Maybe. It really depends. Monastery Mentor, for example, is a card that has its price driven entirely by its playability in the eternal formats, and it's a ~$45-ish foil... If Harsh Mentor turns out to be a playable creature in Modern/Legacy burn, for example, its price could creep. I'm not saying it will, just that the possibility certainly exists.

Quote from wtwlf123 »

Quote from Visserdrix »

if it finds a home in standard it will probably be a $20 foil. if it doesn't it will probably be a $10 foil or less.

Maybe. It really depends. Monastery Mentor, for example, is a card that has its price driven entirely by its playability in the eternal formats, and it's a ~$45-ish foil... If Harsh Mentor turns out to be a playable creature in Modern/Legacy burn, for example, its price could creep. I'm not saying it will, just that the possibility certainly exists.

haha yeah i was just in the shower thinking that i should have mentioned in the slim chance it finds a home outside of standard it could be more.

Quote from steve_man »

Foil ZEN Goblin Guides are $40+, but MM17 versions are only $23.45. I don't think Harsh Mentor is going to be as ubiquitous as Goblin Guide in Modern / Legacy (I could be wrong though).

While it's true Goblin Guide is better, its price is certainly impacted by the 3+ printings it's had. If Harsh Mentor winds up going in the same decks, I could see it settling as a $20+ foil.

Quote from Visserdrix »

[...] the slim chance it finds a home outside of standard [...]

I think Harsh Mentor is likely better in Modern/Legacy than it is in Standard.