My friend did this. 4-man planechase edh game. Turn 1, he reveals cards from the top, hitting solemn simulacrum, putting it into play and ramping to 2 lands. Turn 2, he sacs it and reveals until he hits primeval titan (not yet banned), ramps to 4, draws a card, plays land #5, plays and equips lightning greaves, swings, ramping to 7 lands. Turn 3, plays avenger of zendikar, fetch land, swings. We scoop.
Pyro Pillar is used in Legacy burn as a sideboard.
This is that, with a body of 2/2 (which can be better or worse).
Yea, okay, "junk".
Problem is I'm not sure a legacy deck would want to play this over Pyro Pillar. What removal *does* exist in the format handily takes care of this far more easily than Pillar. The upside is that this can attack into Deathrite and an unequiped Stoneforge fairly easily. Problem is if they're playing Stoneforge, they'll just slam down a Batterskull and proceed to not care.
If you're playing burn, they dropped a Stoneforge and tutored a Batteskull, you either kill them now or remove the stoneforge before he's able to put Batterskull in play, if you don't you lost anyway.
Certainly so; I was remarking on why this being a Pyrostatic Pillar on legs just doesn't matter in a format dominated by Stoneforges and Lightning bolts.
Sure, it works against combo decks like Elves and Storm, but so does Pyrostatic Pillar just as well, without the added baggage of being slightly easier to remove in the format (Which is admittedly sparse, but existent). Given that I don't think the added benefit of it being on legs will really amount to a real advantage (as the effect is what you're really after), it's just not going to work there.
Except this is sideboard only and would never come in against decks with stoneforge/batterskull. Also, the decks it does come in against are what you said, but what kind of removal would you expect from them, if anything; abrupt decay, aka hits either one anyway. Against the decks that pillar is good against, having a 2/2 body attached is just plain better, I would think.
So far the explanations have been very good, but here is my input: The main difference between and aggro and a tempo deck.
Aggro, affinity and now zoo, generally try to play as many threats as possible and kill the opponent before they can stabilize. Most usually have some kind of "reach," or some way to deal the last points of damage if their threats do get answered. Zoo and red aggro run burn while affinity has its man lands.
Tempo, basically any delver list in any format, on the other hand wants to land a small number of efficient threats early and then protect said threats, usually through counter spells or removal. Merfolk, legacy version more so then modern, is basically the old definition of a tempo deck; there is a reason tempo decks are often called fish decks. Actually, comparing delver to merfolk is interesting because they fall into opposite sides of the tempo spectrum. Merfolk is the aggressive version and can easily kill someone with multiple unblockable 4/4's where as delver is usually the controlling version which can land one delver and swing with it 6 times while countering/removing all threats.
The turn 4 rule is usually for combo decks. For example, splinter twin cannot win before turn 4, but can fairly easily try and go off on turn 4. Storm, before is got nerfed to all hell, could goldfish turn 2 rarely and turn 3 often. Now, I believe storm can still go off turn 2, but it requires a god had with perfect draws, turn 3 isn't much better. Blazing shoal got banned because it lead to semi consistant turn 2 wins with inkmoth nexus/Glistener Elf. Eggs was more for time constraints than power level; when game one can very easily last 0+ minutes, there can be a problem. Sensei's divining top is also banned more so for time constraints than power level; despite being very good, it can lead to turns taking several minutes per turn
Don't play enough Standard anymore to speculate, but she looks underwhelming and I've grown pretty weary of people's spoiler hype. Wouldn't be surprised to see her under $15 by April if BNG doesn't bring something along with her to make it awesome in the Standard environment. Once she rotates out, it's straight to the bulk mythic bin to collect dust.
I seriously doubt she will hit bulk, seeing as the only real bulk planeswalkers atm are tibalt and most chandras and she has way more potential in edh compared to them. I mean, before the newest one, chandra ablaze was the most, or almost the most, expensive chandra of the 3 and she is considered by many to be the worst walker, barring tibalt.
For edh, one of her best comparisons is with jace beleren: both of their - abilities have a similar impact, a personal draw and a not super-relavent ult, although kiroa's are slightly more relavent while jace's + is better. I almost never see a jace die by outside forces, although kiora's ramp is a bit more threatening.
You still need to pay the cost. Monstrous is not like unleash where as long as it has a counter it can't block. One of the sneakiest moves in that limited format was giving opposing unleash creatures a counter so they couldn't block. Technically, monstrous should use its own counter/mark/something to show it is, but its typically not needed.
The main plan of this deck is to ramp with creatures into large creatures. The tuskers are there mainly to evolve gyre sage, then can be used as a wall against aggro decks or a beater against control. The mystics, sages and caryatids should be fairly standard in green decks that aim to hit big stuff. However, this is where my idea differs mostly from other ideas, in that I use Karametra's Acolyte as further ramp and defense. Eventually, I'll cast my Garruks and hydra to go over the top of aggro decks.
Control decks seem like a much larger issue, mainly due to how creature dependent my ramp is. A well timed wrath is difficult to recover from. However, if they don't wrath/remove most of my creatures, I will start going over even their heads very quickly. Mistcutter Hydra is very good in this match up, obviously, mostly due to it being immune to all spot removal from a UW deck and decks with B in them will probably have to use their removal on a Kalonian Hydra and other threats.
One of the biggest problems the deck will see is Anger of the Gods since there is no good ramp that isn't a creature; no rampant growth, farseek, cultivate, etc. At least sage can and acolyte does dodge it.
One of the biggest issues I've had with the deck is running out of gas. This is what lead to the inclusion of Into the Wilds and my 7 drop of choice being Garruk's Horde over something like Giant Adephage. The wilds not only ramps when it its, but it "draws" me a card. With the horde, I just always lets me have another card in hand. Also, with this deck, it is quite possible to generate 20+ mana every turn, so casting multiple creatures of it isn't out of the question. I don't have a full sideboard yet.
So, any ideas/critiques/rants you guys have would be much appreciated.
4. Some other cards to consider are nightveil specter and desecration demon. The specter is great for devotion and the demon is just a great finisher. Due note that you would most likely have to cut the mutavaults if you ran the specter.
The ooze lives because the viper never dealt damage. However, if he doom blades it BEFORE it is declared as a blocker, the ooze will also hit you, since it was never blocked.
1) When you go to download it, they tell you the specs you need, but my old laptop that had to run LoL at the lowest settings to have a semi-consistant 20ish fps could run it just fine.
2) Yes, you can buy/trade individual cards, either with bots or stores dedicated to MTGO, such as mtgotraders. However, do note that prices are different on MTGO, usually for the better compared to actual cards. For example, snapcasters or only 5-6 on mtgo, goyfs are 70ish. In general, the only cards that are more expensive then IRL are pauper staples. Cloud of faeries is 10, for example.
3) I personally don't trade with other people, but from what I understand, you open up a trade with them, you each look through each others available collects, pick what you want and try to come to an agreement, basically the same as IRL.
The biggest difference is that you have tix in mtgo. 1 tix = 1 dollar
IF no other lands are made, which I doubt, the gates will see tons of play. They see play now in two color decks that aren't hyper aggressive like RG is. Then again, the current RG decks don't need that much fixing considering the only real green cards are flinthoof boar and Domni Rade.
Look, when we saw Farseek in M13, I told EVERYONE that it clearly meant that RTR would give us Shocklands.
Many of you said no way.
Now, I'm saying that the absence of checklands in M14 pretty clearly tells us that Theros will feature some kind of come-into-play-untapped dual land (be it INN checklands or filterlands). It's pretty obvious, like Farseek was an obvious hint at Shocklands.
I'm calling it now - Theros will have filterlands. Sig me and if I'm wrong I'll owe you a mohito.
I highly doubt filters will be reprinted due to the fact the block would have to incorporate hybrid mana symbols and I doubt we'd have 3ish multicolor blocks in a row.
For any deck running Red, this does seem a terrific waste of 4 mana, considering by turn 6/7 most matches are finishing up.
So, you're spending 4 mana to do as much damage, or more, than a hellrider (assuming the hellrider gets killed within one turn, but this doesn't since it's an enchantment) and this is a waste? The decks that end the game before turn 7, you aren't bringing this in against most likely. Granted, I'd rather have manabarbs, but this is nearly the exact same thing, especially in this meta of 0-2 basic land decks.
Boros is the worst guild for sealed, i'm sorry to say... Those of you saying it's the best guild need to learn a bit more about MTG.
Hearing what was said in this thread, what several people have said in articles about the format and my own pre release, I have to say that it is you who has to learn more MTG.
My prere was won 7-0 by boros, third was 6-0-1 as boros, and a couple more in the top 8. I was orzhov and went 4-2-1 and my losses were to the 6-0-1 boros guy and a "mirror" match that was lost due to him getting his 2 battalion guys out early and me not drawing one of my 6 removal spells for them before they swung a couple of times.
While it may not be the strongest, I think it is more or less agreed that W/x/y is most likely the best deck in sealed, generally. Any combination can just get an insane pool and dominate, it is just easier with boros/orzhov.
Except this is sideboard only and would never come in against decks with stoneforge/batterskull. Also, the decks it does come in against are what you said, but what kind of removal would you expect from them, if anything; abrupt decay, aka hits either one anyway. Against the decks that pillar is good against, having a 2/2 body attached is just plain better, I would think.
Aggro, affinity and now zoo, generally try to play as many threats as possible and kill the opponent before they can stabilize. Most usually have some kind of "reach," or some way to deal the last points of damage if their threats do get answered. Zoo and red aggro run burn while affinity has its man lands.
Tempo, basically any delver list in any format, on the other hand wants to land a small number of efficient threats early and then protect said threats, usually through counter spells or removal. Merfolk, legacy version more so then modern, is basically the old definition of a tempo deck; there is a reason tempo decks are often called fish decks. Actually, comparing delver to merfolk is interesting because they fall into opposite sides of the tempo spectrum. Merfolk is the aggressive version and can easily kill someone with multiple unblockable 4/4's where as delver is usually the controlling version which can land one delver and swing with it 6 times while countering/removing all threats.
The turn 4 rule is usually for combo decks. For example, splinter twin cannot win before turn 4, but can fairly easily try and go off on turn 4. Storm, before is got nerfed to all hell, could goldfish turn 2 rarely and turn 3 often. Now, I believe storm can still go off turn 2, but it requires a god had with perfect draws, turn 3 isn't much better. Blazing shoal got banned because it lead to semi consistant turn 2 wins with inkmoth nexus/Glistener Elf. Eggs was more for time constraints than power level; when game one can very easily last 0+ minutes, there can be a problem. Sensei's divining top is also banned more so for time constraints than power level; despite being very good, it can lead to turns taking several minutes per turn
I seriously doubt she will hit bulk, seeing as the only real bulk planeswalkers atm are tibalt and most chandras and she has way more potential in edh compared to them. I mean, before the newest one, chandra ablaze was the most, or almost the most, expensive chandra of the 3 and she is considered by many to be the worst walker, barring tibalt.
For edh, one of her best comparisons is with jace beleren: both of their - abilities have a similar impact, a personal draw and a not super-relavent ult, although kiroa's are slightly more relavent while jace's + is better. I almost never see a jace die by outside forces, although kiora's ramp is a bit more threatening.
4x Elvish Mystic
4x Sylvan Caryatid
4x Kalonian Tusker
4x Gyre Sage
2x Polukranos, World Eater
3x Karametra's Acolyte
4x Kalonian Hydra
2x Garruk's Horde
2x Miscutter Hydra
2x Primeval Bounty
3x Garruk, Caller of Beasts
2x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
21x Forest
3x Nylea's Disciple
The main plan of this deck is to ramp with creatures into large creatures. The tuskers are there mainly to evolve gyre sage, then can be used as a wall against aggro decks or a beater against control. The mystics, sages and caryatids should be fairly standard in green decks that aim to hit big stuff. However, this is where my idea differs mostly from other ideas, in that I use Karametra's Acolyte as further ramp and defense. Eventually, I'll cast my Garruks and hydra to go over the top of aggro decks.
Control decks seem like a much larger issue, mainly due to how creature dependent my ramp is. A well timed wrath is difficult to recover from. However, if they don't wrath/remove most of my creatures, I will start going over even their heads very quickly. Mistcutter Hydra is very good in this match up, obviously, mostly due to it being immune to all spot removal from a UW deck and decks with B in them will probably have to use their removal on a Kalonian Hydra and other threats.
One of the biggest problems the deck will see is Anger of the Gods since there is no good ramp that isn't a creature; no rampant growth, farseek, cultivate, etc. At least sage can and acolyte does dodge it.
One of the biggest issues I've had with the deck is running out of gas. This is what lead to the inclusion of Into the Wilds and my 7 drop of choice being Garruk's Horde over something like Giant Adephage. The wilds not only ramps when it its, but it "draws" me a card. With the horde, I just always lets me have another card in hand. Also, with this deck, it is quite possible to generate 20+ mana every turn, so casting multiple creatures of it isn't out of the question. I don't have a full sideboard yet.
So, any ideas/critiques/rants you guys have would be much appreciated.
1. You don't want to have 4 thoughtseize AND 4 duress, that much discard isn't needed. I'd think like 2 or so duress would be fine.
2. mogis's marauder also doesn't really fit into mono black control, it is much more of an aggro/midrange card.
3. I'd put the 4th gray merchant of asphodel in, it is really good, usually.
4. Some other cards to consider are nightveil specter and desecration demon. The specter is great for devotion and the demon is just a great finisher. Due note that you would most likely have to cut the mutavaults if you ran the specter.
1) When you go to download it, they tell you the specs you need, but my old laptop that had to run LoL at the lowest settings to have a semi-consistant 20ish fps could run it just fine.
2) Yes, you can buy/trade individual cards, either with bots or stores dedicated to MTGO, such as mtgotraders. However, do note that prices are different on MTGO, usually for the better compared to actual cards. For example, snapcasters or only 5-6 on mtgo, goyfs are 70ish. In general, the only cards that are more expensive then IRL are pauper staples. Cloud of faeries is 10, for example.
3) I personally don't trade with other people, but from what I understand, you open up a trade with them, you each look through each others available collects, pick what you want and try to come to an agreement, basically the same as IRL.
The biggest difference is that you have tix in mtgo. 1 tix = 1 dollar
Hope this helps!
I highly doubt filters will be reprinted due to the fact the block would have to incorporate hybrid mana symbols and I doubt we'd have 3ish multicolor blocks in a row.
So, you're spending 4 mana to do as much damage, or more, than a hellrider (assuming the hellrider gets killed within one turn, but this doesn't since it's an enchantment) and this is a waste? The decks that end the game before turn 7, you aren't bringing this in against most likely. Granted, I'd rather have manabarbs, but this is nearly the exact same thing, especially in this meta of 0-2 basic land decks.
Hearing what was said in this thread, what several people have said in articles about the format and my own pre release, I have to say that it is you who has to learn more MTG.
My prere was won 7-0 by boros, third was 6-0-1 as boros, and a couple more in the top 8. I was orzhov and went 4-2-1 and my losses were to the 6-0-1 boros guy and a "mirror" match that was lost due to him getting his 2 battalion guys out early and me not drawing one of my 6 removal spells for them before they swung a couple of times.
While it may not be the strongest, I think it is more or less agreed that W/x/y is most likely the best deck in sealed, generally. Any combination can just get an insane pool and dominate, it is just easier with boros/orzhov.