MTG Salvation

I really was going to test Anguished Unmaking, but this card just seems unreal. How do you play a fair game of Magic against this? It's a Baneful Omen + Coercive Portal that you can activate right away. It also gets to be a Corrupt for everything but your opponent's face that you can divide across turns. Both are fantastic topdecks in different situations. On top of that, you start at a massive amount of loyalty and get a game-winning ultimate, as usual.

Like seriously, when is this card ever weak? Chandra, Flamecaller and Elspeth, Sun's Champion both have weaknesses (to big creatures and fliers, respectively), but I don't see those same issues with Sorin. Can't wait to try him out.

Agreed. I think this card is good, but I think Elspeth and Chandra are both better, even if this Sorin wasn't multicolored.

Fair point about a token swarm, although that's not something most BW decks generally have trouble dealing with. Even then, he'll help you stabilize against if there's a planeswalker producing the token army (say, Elspeth), try to draw you into an answer, or even just kill your opponent via reach if you've gotten them low enough.

I rate this on par with Chandra right now, but I wouldn't be shocked at all if this ends up one of BW's staples.

This is a neat planeswalker, but I am not sure it can make top 6 in Orzhov after we also got Anguished Unmaking.
Do you think it is better than Gerrard's Verdict? I think it might be.

Quote from Tactuz »

Do you think it is better than Gerrard's Verdict? I think it might be.

I've never much liked verdict. Multicolor mindrot for 1 mana less isn't that exciting, and the lifegain only matters in a minority of games. If I was curating a cube that was still running verdict I would certainly consider cutting it to test this guy.

Also, I do think this is better than New Chandra, although I don't think I've actually had her in a deck yet....

This card seems really good. I don't know exactly where it belong in the top 10 Orzhov cards though, but it certainly deserve play at some point. My guess is that 540 and more cube, powered or not, can include him as a 5th option without lowering the power level too much. its +1 ability is a strong wincon and provides card advantage. Minus X seems like a decent way to defend itself and gaining some life back in the process. And the ultimate looks okay, but seems unnecesssary IMO. Overall, with a little bit of board support when he comes down, I think that Sorin, Grim Nemesis could have a massive impact on the game.

However, I'm with steve_man about Ayli. At OGW release, it was more than welcome as another black 2-drop option and cutting it for this new Sorin would create a hole on the curve. I'm still open to switch both though, mainly because we are also getting a new powerful and versatile black 2-drop in Heir of Falkenrath. We'll see how testing goes, but I'm thrilled about this new walker.

Quote from simpygdog »

I love planeswalkers and I've defended some that others consider terrible, but I think this sorin is really bad. […]This is more Chandra ablaze than elspeth sun's champion.

I think Sorin, Grim Nemesis is way better than Chandra Ablaze. I agree that its not accurate to compare it to Elspeth, Sun's Champion though, but it's still way better than old 6 mana Chandra. The reason why is because Chandra Ablaze can't act like a win condition unless you're running a strongly oriented burn deck. But which burn deck does curve out to 6 anyway? For its part, SOI's Sorin certainly can close the game for you in a more grindier build.

I don't know... This looks like something I might try to splash for. Reach, card advantage, removal and life recovery are all welcome additions to the top end in either of those colors.

I concur wtwlf. Killing your opponent while it grows in loyalty is boss.

Quote from steve_man »

Kind of insane that we got 3 really good Orzhov cards in back to back sets.

But yeah, we've reached the point in Orzhov where there's enough quality cards to pick and choose what we want to support more of. Slow grindy cubes would probably rate this much higher than Ayli / Verdict.

yeah, in slower cubes definitely like this more than Ayli and possibly more than verdict (depends on if a full disruption package is available).

Verdict is my #4 pick for fast powered cubes. When multiple people are trying to do broken things, thoughtseize + 2 for 1 discard is one of the best gameplans a fair deck can have.. Being 1 mana cheaper than mindrot is an enormous difference (mind rot is almost constructed playable fwiw).. and gaining life for land makes it less bad in agro matchups than traditional discard.

Pretty sure it would have seen modern play if it were legal

It may get to #5, depending on the group preference. Easy pass for 360 though.

It's late and I'm tired but I came here to say this is bonkers with Vampiric Tutor. Emrakul, the Aeons Torn says hi

Except that no one plays emrakul in cube.

Quote from Chisinf »

Except that no one plays emrakul in cube.

Pretty certain that is not true.

I only run 3 guild slots in my 450, so this is also a pass for me, unfortunately. Card's sweet, though.

Also a huge fan of Emrakul in Cube

I play Emrakul in cube.
My group likes splashy cards that pull you towards certain decks, especially in the guild section, and this Sorin certainly fits that theme.
On the other hand, we also like BW aggro, which is why Tidehollow Sculler is preferred over general goodstuff like Gerrard's Verdict.
Will probably try this over Sorin, Lord of Innistrad to see how it plays out.

I also play Emrakul in cube but this guy doesn't seem like he'd go in the same decks that want emrakul for me.

Quote from Kouri »

On the other hand, we also like BW aggro, which is why Tidehollow Sculler is preferred over general goodstuff like Gerrard's Verdict.

Gerrard's Verdict was much better for us, even in aggro decks. Sculler often cannot participate in combat

I also like Verdict more than Sculler, even in aggro.

Quote from Torggo »

Quote from Chisinf »

Except that no one plays emrakul in cube.

Pretty certain that is not true.

Yeah I love the ***** out of Emrakul. Pretty tough to get him into play, but it's bad-ass when you do and is totally, like, the only thing I ever want to do in cube.