I'm ok with the new slivers. I'm also curious why the new slivers look humanoid compared to the old slivers. Maybe there is a story behind it. This sliver news just got me very excited for m14
I think 4/4 Teysa is fine. Many people say "Why is Teysa a 4/4? She's supposed to be a cripple." But a Runeclaw bear is just a 2/2 and the original Teysa was already a 2/3 cripple. So old cripple Teysa was strong as a bear and tougher than it?
The point I'm trying to make is that Power and Toughness doesn't always translate to combat skills. Her being 2/3 in the past must come from her power and not her skill with her cane or a sword.
They have repeatedly said that Teysa has increased in power compared to old ravnica. Jumping from 2/3 to 4/4 in not that big. It just shows her increase in power. I think the flavor of the card is fine.
Lavinia: Thumbs Up. I think she is a fine commander. Being UW gives her access to a lot of blink effects to take advantage of her ability.
Mirko: Thumbs Down. He is not very good in commander and is weaker than Szadek in my opinion.
Exava: Thumbs Up. Kind of a build around me commander. I'm not sure if she will be good but she has her own unique flavor compared to the other options in RB.
Ruric Thar: Thumbs Up. He seems like an interesting general. Big Body, vigilance and reach. Removal punishes your opponent.
Emmara Tandris: Thumbs Down. She feels bland and the switch with voice really hurt her design. I don't hate the card but I'm also finding her very underwhelming.
Melek: Thumbs Up. Very unique commander for UR. He seems fun to build around.
Varolz: Thumbs Up. Cheap cost. Can protect himself with regenration and can get very big in the right deck. Fun commander to build around and works well with golgari cards.
Tajic: Thumbs Up. Cheap cost. Indestructible and gets better with creatures swinging with him. He is not the most powerful commander in RW but he is different enough from the other RW commanders to be interesting for me.
Vorel: Thumbs Up. Vorel is not the strongest commander but he does have an interesting build around me ability. He also works well with the other GU generals. He also has a cheap cost.
Teysa: Thumbs Up. Teysa is my favorite from the guild champions. She is not the best WB general and she cost a lot. But she has a unique ability that other WB generals don't have. She fits the way i play. Her abilities capture the flavor that no one attacks teysa or they suffer the wrath of the whole syndicate.
Overall I think they did a good job with the cycle. I know many people are disappointed with Emmara and Mirko but some people will still be interested in them since we all have different likes and dislikes. Not everyone plays commander competitively. Some people really do build casually and play competitively.
Gruul War Chant :2mana::symr::symg:
Enchantment
Each attacking creature you control gets +1/+0 and can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.
Drown in Filth :symb::symg:
Sorcery
Choose target creature. Put the top four cards of your library into your graveyard, then that creatures gets -1/-1 until end of turn for each land card in your graveyard.
War chant looks really solid I hope it's real. Thanks for sharing them to us.
• It bothers me that a W/B ability that grants other creatures a W/B ability is NOT on a W/B card but on a mono B one
• It bothers me that this ability is NOT on a Legendary creature so that people who want to build around that in Commander can't do it (just FYI, I actually don't play Commander all that often, but I appreciate the medium)
• It bothers me that Teysa has such a huge cost, won't get played as often and therefore won't be seen as often while this nameless zombie cleric will have a much higher chance of being played in more decks.
• It bothers me that the guild champion basically has zero interaction with her guild's mechanic other than stall out to drop her while this guy has the guild mechanic right on the card and gives the guild mechanic to everyone.
It's just really poor, really frustrating design. Just like VoR/Emmara, I'm positive these two creatures were switched in development... which is a shame.
You make some fine points sir. I do agree that the card should be WB instead of a mono B. I also don't play commander as much as other people do but I do believe that a card doesn't need to be a legend to be build around me in that format especially in the color with tutors.
Teysa does have a huge cost which could affect her seeing play in competitive. But putting her on this card may not make any difference in her seeing play in standard. I barely even see extort except for Blind Obedience.
Lastly having the guild mechanic just because your the champion doesn't always work in flavor. Like Tajic thought in the Teysa preview that she was different from the other orzhov aristocrats. Teysa was never in good terms with the Obzedat and it doesn't fit her character to just sit around and extort people. She is a character who acts.
Pontiff of Blight will be going straight to my casual EDH extort deck. I'm just not a big fan off zombie clerics. Either way I'm ok with it.
Gaze of Granite reminds me of pernicious deed on a sorcery. I hope the art is a cool gorgon for my Damia EDH. May even see some play. Great cards thank you for sharing.
I agree with Emmara's P/T feels wrong but I believe Teysa being 4/4 is just fine. She was already a 2/3 in Old Ravnica so jumping to 4/4 is not that big.
You could say she's a cripple but do you think a cripple would have a 2/3 stat while a bear is only a 2/2? Her power and toughness doesn't come from her physical ability. Being a 4/4 just shows how much power she has gained. Enough to be considered by many to be the true ruler of the Syndicate.
Very good limited card. I've won a few matches against simic in limited attacking through the air and this helps them. Also a decent offensive creature.
This has to be my favorite split card so far. Both sides are good on their own and game-winning when cast at the right time. Great design for this card.
In the storyline though, she's crippled and needs a cane to walk. She should be something more like a 2/2 that can make a plethora of tokens (in a way that's more accessible than her current ability).
Yes but she was already a 2/3 back then and I don't even think a cripple was suppose to be a 2/3. So her power and toughness must be from something different than combat skills.
I was just pointing out that her being a 4/4 could just show her increase in power from the old Ravnica. Since power and toughness doesn't really mean brute strength. I do agree though that they could have made her more accessible
Edit: Duel decks slivers vs. Eldrazi wizards make it happen ;p
The point I'm trying to make is that Power and Toughness doesn't always translate to combat skills. Her being 2/3 in the past must come from her power and not her skill with her cane or a sword.
They have repeatedly said that Teysa has increased in power compared to old ravnica. Jumping from 2/3 to 4/4 in not that big. It just shows her increase in power. I think the flavor of the card is fine.
Mirko: Thumbs Down. He is not very good in commander and is weaker than Szadek in my opinion.
Exava: Thumbs Up. Kind of a build around me commander. I'm not sure if she will be good but she has her own unique flavor compared to the other options in RB.
Ruric Thar: Thumbs Up. He seems like an interesting general. Big Body, vigilance and reach. Removal punishes your opponent.
Emmara Tandris: Thumbs Down. She feels bland and the switch with voice really hurt her design. I don't hate the card but I'm also finding her very underwhelming.
Melek: Thumbs Up. Very unique commander for UR. He seems fun to build around.
Varolz: Thumbs Up. Cheap cost. Can protect himself with regenration and can get very big in the right deck. Fun commander to build around and works well with golgari cards.
Tajic: Thumbs Up. Cheap cost. Indestructible and gets better with creatures swinging with him. He is not the most powerful commander in RW but he is different enough from the other RW commanders to be interesting for me.
Vorel: Thumbs Up. Vorel is not the strongest commander but he does have an interesting build around me ability. He also works well with the other GU generals. He also has a cheap cost.
Teysa: Thumbs Up. Teysa is my favorite from the guild champions. She is not the best WB general and she cost a lot. But she has a unique ability that other WB generals don't have. She fits the way i play. Her abilities capture the flavor that no one attacks teysa or they suffer the wrath of the whole syndicate.
Overall I think they did a good job with the cycle. I know many people are disappointed with Emmara and Mirko but some people will still be interested in them since we all have different likes and dislikes. Not everyone plays commander competitively. Some people really do build casually and play competitively.
War chant looks really solid I hope it's real. Thanks for sharing them to us.
EDIT: Reread Drown in Filth and it's very good
You make some fine points sir. I do agree that the card should be WB instead of a mono B. I also don't play commander as much as other people do but I do believe that a card doesn't need to be a legend to be build around me in that format especially in the color with tutors.
Teysa does have a huge cost which could affect her seeing play in competitive. But putting her on this card may not make any difference in her seeing play in standard. I barely even see extort except for Blind Obedience.
Lastly having the guild mechanic just because your the champion doesn't always work in flavor. Like Tajic thought in the Teysa preview that she was different from the other orzhov aristocrats. Teysa was never in good terms with the Obzedat and it doesn't fit her character to just sit around and extort people. She is a character who acts.
I think Teysa fits better with her current card compared to this. There is more to her than just greed.
Gaze of Granite reminds me of pernicious deed on a sorcery. I hope the art is a cool gorgon for my Damia EDH. May even see some play. Great cards thank you for sharing.
You could say she's a cripple but do you think a cripple would have a 2/3 stat while a bear is only a 2/2? Her power and toughness doesn't come from her physical ability. Being a 4/4 just shows how much power she has gained. Enough to be considered by many to be the true ruler of the Syndicate.
Yes but she was already a 2/3 back then and I don't even think a cripple was suppose to be a 2/3. So her power and toughness must be from something different than combat skills.
I was just pointing out that her being a 4/4 could just show her increase in power from the old Ravnica. Since power and toughness doesn't really mean brute strength. I do agree though that they could have made her more accessible