I don't ever recall hearing that Wizards stated anything about the Simic having a special win condition. I do recall hearing a quote from one of the magazines (don't remember which though) that seemed to have a lot of people misinterpreting it. I believe it said something about the Simic having a unique creature based win condition.
It would seem that Graft alone isn't really that unique of a creature based win condition (Spikes ~ Modular), unless the reference is looking at how some of the Simic-related cards can influence other cards that have counters on them.
Looking through the spoiler for DIS, I seemed to not catch where was that WOTC referenced alternative or special win condition that was so 'special' or 'unique' for the Simic?
Graft # (This creature comes into play with # +1/+1 counters on it. Whenever another creature comes into play, you may move a +1/+1 counter from this creature onto it)
Simic Guildmmage :symgu::symgu:
Creature - Elf Wizard
1G: Until end of turn, target land is a 3/3 creature with trample that’s still a land.
1U: Target land becomes a basic land type of your choice until end of turn.
2/2
I think the Woodkin is just a hoser of green and red's shared enemy, blue. I don't think it implies anything about the Simic. Also, I just don't see the Simic having much to do with elementals.
Cheers,
rant
Blue and Green both have their share of Elementals, so why not the Simic?
Plus the Woodkin have strange armor apparently bolted on as well as a metallic weapon which suggests unnatural enhancements which spark closer to the Simic approach in the books.
Doesn't the Woodkin kind of hose White, Black and Green instants as well?
I just can't believe they'd give countering to green under the modern color pie.
Cheers,
rant
Well with Blue/Green in the past they did give out Mystic Snake even if it was heavy on the Blue side
Plus it's limited to enchantments and instants that target one of your permanents, so I could see this in a possible rare slot (to the lamentations of Blue/Green fans screaming not another wasted Rare slot?!) or a similar themed card for the Simic guild.
Hey I read the article and think that green is the most powerful colour if you take away the straight forward decks that make top 8 all the time and look at what green can acomplish then youd have to remember green beats blue hands down cause they cant be countered and beats red with life gain or a decent fattie like wall of blossoms so weenies dont survive ether not flying, damage, milling, or combos survive when you consider green is the the best colour with the most answers.Your not talking the best deck but the best cards, find a card green can't deal with?.
Cards that come to mind as "a card green can't deal with" -
Good series so far, I do have a slight edit suggestion to your Frostwielder example.
Instead of any, I would say most 1 toughness creatures - because it implies that cards like Silhana Ledgewalker are somehow directly effected by the Frostwielder's abilities (which wouldn't be true).
Because a deck based on land destruction can't play only one 3cc ld spell. The chance to have it on your opening hand is very low. Imagine you've 8 3 mana land destruction spells. The chance to draw one of them in your opening hand is very high. Because you can defeat your opponent by get him screwed with your spells everybody would try to play a land destruction deck. Most first turns would simply look like:
1rst Turn: Land ---> Birdy
2nd Turn: Land ---> 3 mana land destruction spell.
Even if this does not look dangerous it could be an important situation that influences the hole match.
Or
1st Turn: Land ---> Birdy
2nd Turn: Land #2 --> Summer Bloom
Land #3, Land #4 up to Land #5 ---> 2cc land destruction or 4cc land destruction
3rd Turn: 3cc to 5cc spells
The listing did not name the source. http://www.ebay.com/itm/MTG-Magic-From-the-Vault-Annihilation-Sealed-PREORDER-Unopened-Ships-8-22-FOILS-/111393648114?pt=Trading_Card_Games_US&hash=item19ef942df2
It would seem that Graft alone isn't really that unique of a creature based win condition (Spikes ~ Modular), unless the reference is looking at how some of the Simic-related cards can influence other cards that have counters on them.
Maybe WOTC meant the Azorius Senate?
Graft # (This creature comes into play with # +1/+1 counters on it. Whenever another creature comes into play, you may move a +1/+1 counter from this creature onto it)
Creature - Elf Wizard
1G: Until end of turn, target land is a 3/3 creature with trample that’s still a land.
1U: Target land becomes a basic land type of your choice until end of turn.
2/2
Blue and Green both have their share of Elementals, so why not the Simic?
Plus the Woodkin have strange armor apparently bolted on as well as a metallic weapon which suggests unnatural enhancements which spark closer to the Simic approach in the books.
Doesn't the Woodkin kind of hose White, Black and Green instants as well?
How common is Simich?
I'll seen somewhat rare surnames of schimek, shimek and simek?
It's almost as if it’s a Simic experiment that turned on their guild or a possible Gruul mimic of the Simic work?
And how strange is that simic and mimic rhyme while both rhyme with gimmick which has a definition of "any clever (deceptive) maneuver".
So far the closest Green got to a "vampire"-like creature was Vulturous Zombie
Well with Blue/Green in the past they did give out Mystic Snake even if it was heavy on the Blue side
Plus it's limited to enchantments and instants that target one of your permanents, so I could see this in a possible rare slot (to the lamentations of Blue/Green fans screaming not another wasted Rare slot?!) or a similar themed card for the Simic guild.
With the current ruling it is one of the more powerful green spells, but it needs a re-printing with the latest wording.
It seems to fit into the Simic guild philosophy.
Thoughts?
Cards that come to mind as "a card green can't deal with" -
Spectral Lynx
Flash of Defiance
Hibernation or even Cerulean Wyvern
Perish
Granted not many are readily used in maindeck but still "never say never"
Instead of any, I would say most 1 toughness creatures - because it implies that cards like Silhana Ledgewalker are somehow directly effected by the Frostwielder's abilities (which wouldn't be true).
Or
1st Turn: Land ---> Birdy
2nd Turn: Land #2 --> Summer Bloom
Land #3, Land #4 up to Land #5 ---> 2cc land destruction or 4cc land destruction
3rd Turn: 3cc to 5cc spells
Add things like the Icy Manipulator to the mix.
Might not be "considered" Pro level but it can be done in Standard within one's own local area.
How come Stone Rain doesn't seem to count, its a 3cc LAND DESTRUCTION still in Standard?