I like it. It looks fun and interesting. Different than the original, and powerful in different ways, but I think it's roughly equivalent. I'll probably be making the swap and have Nu-Bolas as my Grixis card.
I can't see my way to playing this over the original Bolas as my cube's lone Grixis card. Both can answer a single threat the turn they come down, but the original can answer absolutely anything it can target, while this can just deal 7 and hope it's enough for the creature or PW it's after. Original's answering a non-creature, it's at 8 loyalty, while this would be down to 3 for answering anything. Better yet, when the original answers a creature, it TAKES that creature, which is incredibly strong... often that play answers two creatures.
While this one has some neat + abilities, and is a mana cheaper, I think the first one is going to win more games. Four turns to get to ultimate on the new one and it's not even a great one... if the opponent has a board state worth mentioning, how did this get to 12 loyalty? Meanwhile the original gets to ultimate on the third turn, and that ultimate will often wreck their mana base in addition to devastating their hand. Far more likely to seal a victory.
Mana Cost: God-Pharaoh
Starting Loyalty: God-Pharaoh
Loyalty Gains Over Time: Planeswalker, but it's only relevant if you minus first, other wise it takes 3 turns to outpace God-Pharaoh
First Plus Ability: Planeswalker
Loyalty Count After First Use of Minus Ability: Equal
Minus Abilities: Pretty equal, but leaning towards God-Pharaoh since he can close out games by himself
Ultimate: Planeswalker's ultimate is stronger, but God-Pharaoh can do 14 damage to the dome in the same amount of time Planeswalker can ramp up to its ultimate.
I think being 4UBR over 4UBBR is huge. Grixis is in the artifact colors and being cheaper / more splashable means it's not too hard to ramp God-Pharaoh out by turn 5 with Worn Powerstone / Coalition Relic / Thran Dynamo / Coalition Relic. That and the fact that God-Pharaoh can close out games by himself makes him more desirable than OG Bolas.
God-Pharaoh's first and third abilities seem to be where the meat and potatoes are at. The 2nd ability seems a bit situational, I feel like I'd only play this if there's nothing to hit on board and my opponent has a lower curved deck. The ultimate seems kind of redundant since you'd rather just dome them for 14 over the course of 3 turn.
I don't think there was a way for wizards to print a slam include new Nicol Bolas planeswalker, given they pretty much had to make it three colors. This is much more playable than the original, but not still very restrictive and I don't think the power level difference between it an Ugin ot Karn are worth the addition of three colors.
I think I'm in the camp that likes the original Bolas more than this new one. God-Pharaoh may (arguably) be slightly stronger, but to me the original Bolas is a lot more iconic. So much that I won't be making the switch.
I also like that the original can deal with any kind of permanent where God-Pharaoh is limited to creatures and whatever the top spell in their library can do.
I also like that the original can deal with any kind of permanent where God-Pharaoh is limited to creatures and whatever the top spell in their library can do.
The new one can also kill almost every planeswalker. But more importantly, it can actually kill players.
The original Bolas 'walker is often included for the fun of it. It's powerful and interesting and is kind of an "achievement unlocked" kind of card anyways. The {+2} on the God-Pharaoh is such a fun ability. It will be the center of so many awesome cube stories; I think the new Bolas does a better job of being Bolas than the original one does. Plus, attacking the opponent's hand has been a part of Bolas' flavor since Legends, and this one can do that again.
By the time you cast this, it's pretty likely that they have seven or less life, especially considering you are playing red. This card is obscene. I prefer the original because it makes you work a little harder for your broken planeswalker. I know I'm in the minority, but I prefer that cards like this make you jump through extra hoops. Obviously it's a great card, and in a pure power comparison, I think the new one wins out.
Maybe I'm just biased from having been such a fan of the original Bolas planeswalker in cube for so long, but I'm still not convinced that this one is truly better. I don't think the one less black mana in the cost pushes this one ahead by much. In the types of decks that want a big flashy walker like this, it's not going to be that big of a challenge to get from 4UBR to 4UBBR. I think the true comparison evaluation needs to look at practicality of this type of card. Preference, IMO, will come down to how much you value the utility of being able to blow up and steal things vs just straight dome your opponent for seven damage and get the cool story of milling into a big scary monster.
Don't get me wrong. This new Bolas looks great and super fun. Drop him and win with the seven damage, drop him and plus to mill into something super exciting, then hit for seven over the next couple turns to get the game. I'm just not quick to say that one is without a doubt better than the other. I feel like they're just different and it'll ultimately come down to preference on the abilities.
I think there's a big difference between 7 and 8 mana, and a bigger difference between requiring 4 colored mana symbols and 3. This will likely resolve about 2 turns earlier on average because of those mana differences.
Is everybody straight ignoring the exiling-Mind Rot activation? It's really good.
If they cost the same amount of mana, it'd be a toss-up. But being cheaper and easier to cast? Edge God-Pharaoh all the way, IMO.
The exile Mind Rot is easily overlooked because of how expensive the card is and how late it should come down on average. Have you been doing any preliminary testing? I'd definitely be interested in hearing any in game performance insight you might have there.
No, I haven't tested it yet. But I've played with Karn Liberated, and I know how changing his single-card Exile ability to a 2-card exile ability would be terrific.
Holy cow what a beast of a walker. I strongly prefer this to og Bolas. He's better at destroying resources, great at killing stuff, and practically cascades as a +2. AND cheaper???? Yes plz.
I'll be making the swap. The original Bolas was rarely maindecked and was a low pick. I doubt this will be any different, but it's worth trying - this will often steal games.
This one is *a lot* worse at stabilizing a board/ protecting itself, but also a lot better at attacking hands and life totals. They both only fit in grixis control/big mana decks, where I think I'm usually more interested in the former, so probably sticking with OG for now.
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On Tuesday, I drafted this. I p1p1ed the new Bolas and... I'll be honest, I have no idea what happened with this deck. I think I may have been tilted as our group drafted at a new store and several people who said that they'd show up flaked out. But we had 5 people and the deck 3-0ed so... hey!
I'll echo the sentiments that this card is great. I ran the old Bolas PW when I had more tricolor stuff happening, but eventually cut it.
I think the +1 ability's definitely underrated now, since there aren't many contemporary cards with that kind of repeatable effect w/o requiring mana. Cao Cao, Lord of Wei and Sadistic Hypnotist, I guess?
It's true that it can't get rid of non-creature and non-planeswalker threats, but found that wasn't much of an issue. Usually when I cast it, I went "Let's spin the wheel!" and got at least... something solid. (things like hitting a Cast Out vs Esper control, or even creatures like Goblin Rabblemaster to defend it. Obviously, it's not 100% reliable, but you're still essentially Jayemdae Tomeing off the opponent from a +2.
The only time it got to ultimate range was when the opponent had a Knight of the Reliquary and a Sword of Fire and Ice, and I had enough stuff out that could deal with it, as Bolas had just enough loyalty to ultimate but killing itself in the process.)
-4 was fine also, and several times it represented impending doom if the opponent couldn't deal with him (and used it once to kill a Selfless Spirit, which oddly was the right thing to do. Overkill, sure, but hey.)
edit- whoops, forgot a Miscalculation. That's in there also.
On Tuesday, I drafted this. I p1p1ed the new Bolas and... I'll be honest, I have no idea what happened with this deck. I think I may have been tilted as our group drafted at a new store and several people who said that they'd show up flaked out. But we had 5 people and the deck 3-0ed so... hey!
I'll echo the sentiments that this card is great. I ran the old Bolas PW when I had more tricolor stuff happening, but eventually cut it.
I think the +1 ability's definitely underrated now, since there aren't many contemporary cards with that kind of repeatable effect w/o requiring mana. Cao Cao, Lord of Wei and Sadistic Hypnotist, I guess?
It's true that it can't get rid of non-creature and non-planeswalker threats, but found that wasn't much of an issue. Usually when I cast it, I went "Let's spin the wheel!" and got at least... something solid. (things like hitting a Cast Out vs Esper control, or even creatures like Goblin Rabblemaster to defend it. Obviously, it's not 100% reliable, but you're still essentially Jayemdae Tomeing off the opponent from a +2.
The only time it got to ultimate range was when the opponent had a Knight of the Reliquary and a Sword of Fire and Ice, and I had enough stuff out that could deal with it, as Bolas had just enough loyalty to ultimate but killing itself in the process.)
-4 was fine also, and several times it represented impending doom if the opponent couldn't deal with him (and used it once to kill a Selfless Spirit, which oddly was the right thing to do. Overkill, sure, but hey.)
Deck seems great and bolas seems out of place in it, but thanks for the post
Counted 22 playables, were you short?
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Glad to hear it testing well... I tested it for a 4-5 drafts and it just sat in sideboards. Grixis 7 mana card not in high demand :/
Unfortunate reality of my cube is it's slightly "faster" than most cubes and I run a few more cheap counter spells that interact favorably with bolas (negate/spell pierce)... so don't think I can justify keeping a card this narrow... even though I want to.
I'm slamming this into 450. I only play 3 guild cards and have a rainbow section, currently 7 cards, where I can play multicolor cards that don't fit elsewhere. This will go there. Not sure if I'll cut a multicolor card or a colorless to fit it. I currently play no Grixis cards, but this seems awesome, even if it is ultimately pretty narrow.
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While this one has some neat + abilities, and is a mana cheaper, I think the first one is going to win more games. Four turns to get to ultimate on the new one and it's not even a great one... if the opponent has a board state worth mentioning, how did this get to 12 loyalty? Meanwhile the original gets to ultimate on the third turn, and that ultimate will often wreck their mana base in addition to devastating their hand. Far more likely to seal a victory.
Mana Cost: God-Pharaoh
Starting Loyalty: God-Pharaoh
Loyalty Gains Over Time: Planeswalker, but it's only relevant if you minus first, other wise it takes 3 turns to outpace God-Pharaoh
First Plus Ability: Planeswalker
Loyalty Count After First Use of Minus Ability: Equal
Minus Abilities: Pretty equal, but leaning towards God-Pharaoh since he can close out games by himself
Ultimate: Planeswalker's ultimate is stronger, but God-Pharaoh can do 14 damage to the dome in the same amount of time Planeswalker can ramp up to its ultimate.
I think being 4UBR over 4UBBR is huge. Grixis is in the artifact colors and being cheaper / more splashable means it's not too hard to ramp God-Pharaoh out by turn 5 with Worn Powerstone / Coalition Relic / Thran Dynamo / Coalition Relic. That and the fact that God-Pharaoh can close out games by himself makes him more desirable than OG Bolas.
God-Pharaoh's first and third abilities seem to be where the meat and potatoes are at. The 2nd ability seems a bit situational, I feel like I'd only play this if there's nothing to hit on board and my opponent has a lower curved deck. The ultimate seems kind of redundant since you'd rather just dome them for 14 over the course of 3 turn.
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I also like that the original can deal with any kind of permanent where God-Pharaoh is limited to creatures and whatever the top spell in their library can do.
The new one can also kill almost every planeswalker. But more importantly, it can actually kill players.
The original Bolas 'walker is often included for the fun of it. It's powerful and interesting and is kind of an "achievement unlocked" kind of card anyways. The {+2} on the God-Pharaoh is such a fun ability. It will be the center of so many awesome cube stories; I think the new Bolas does a better job of being Bolas than the original one does. Plus, attacking the opponent's hand has been a part of Bolas' flavor since Legends, and this one can do that again.
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Don't get me wrong. This new Bolas looks great and super fun. Drop him and win with the seven damage, drop him and plus to mill into something super exciting, then hit for seven over the next couple turns to get the game. I'm just not quick to say that one is without a doubt better than the other. I feel like they're just different and it'll ultimately come down to preference on the abilities.
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Is everybody straight ignoring the exiling-Mind Rot activation? It's really good.
If they cost the same amount of mana, it'd be a toss-up. But being cheaper and easier to cast? Edge God-Pharaoh all the way, IMO.
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I've seen it in only one draft but got to see it resolve multiple times.
Card is insane. IMO if you have a 3+ color section, this should be in it.
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I'll echo the sentiments that this card is great. I ran the old Bolas PW when I had more tricolor stuff happening, but eventually cut it.
I think the +1 ability's definitely underrated now, since there aren't many contemporary cards with that kind of repeatable effect w/o requiring mana. Cao Cao, Lord of Wei and Sadistic Hypnotist, I guess?
It's true that it can't get rid of non-creature and non-planeswalker threats, but found that wasn't much of an issue. Usually when I cast it, I went "Let's spin the wheel!" and got at least... something solid. (things like hitting a Cast Out vs Esper control, or even creatures like Goblin Rabblemaster to defend it. Obviously, it's not 100% reliable, but you're still essentially Jayemdae Tomeing off the opponent from a +2.
The only time it got to ultimate range was when the opponent had a Knight of the Reliquary and a Sword of Fire and Ice, and I had enough stuff out that could deal with it, as Bolas had just enough loyalty to ultimate but killing itself in the process.)
-4 was fine also, and several times it represented impending doom if the opponent couldn't deal with him (and used it once to kill a Selfless Spirit, which oddly was the right thing to do. Overkill, sure, but hey.)
edit- whoops, forgot a Miscalculation. That's in there also.
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Deck seems great and bolas seems out of place in it, but thanks for the post
Counted 22 playables, were you short?
(Unrelated to this post)
Glad to hear it testing well... I tested it for a 4-5 drafts and it just sat in sideboards. Grixis 7 mana card not in high demand :/
Unfortunate reality of my cube is it's slightly "faster" than most cubes and I run a few more cheap counter spells that interact favorably with bolas (negate/spell pierce)... so don't think I can justify keeping a card this narrow... even though I want to.
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