Are we really thinking "the 93/94 format" is a prominent factor in card valuation, and not just simple aesthetic/collectible first-edition preference? In the comic book world, a first edition is worth stratospherically more than a second edition simply by virtue of being the first edition. I would expect the same was at play here.
People do have preference for the original versions, however 93/94 contributes significantly to that. Look at cards like Erhnam Djinn, it sees play in Erhnamgeddon builds and the AN version commands a considerable premium over other printings.
Also, consider the case of Lord of Atlantis, it sees virtually zero play in 93/94, but it's popular in modern day merfolk builds (Legacy & Modern) and it's original two printings in Alpha and Beta can be had for around $200-$300. However, a card like Serra Angel, that sees no real play besides the 93/94 format costs around $400. The kicker is Serra is an Uncommon, while Lord of Atlantis is a Rare. If Lord of Atlantis was played in 93/94, we would see pricing on it like Savannah Lions, another Alpha/Beta rare. The difference between the two is that Lions sees a good bit of play in 93/94 and because of that costs $500+. And I don't think anyone would argue that Savannah Lions is anymore iconic than Lord of Atlantis.
Didn't Mana Drain drop from $200 to $60 and Azusa from $35 to $16? And those are just two cards. The prices decrease, even if it's only transient. They just don't crash outright.
The interesting thing about Mana Drain, is that the original printing didn't move much, if at all. It's just that the new card was worth $50-$60. Why this is interesting is because the printing of Drain, doesn't actually do anything for the people that want it. In the 93/94 format, you must have a card with the original artwork and old frame, so any modern reprinting does nothing to help offset that demand. The only other two formats that play the card are Vintage and EDH, and Mana Drain in Vintage is not seeing the play it once did, add in that EDH players only want one copy; you just don't have much demand for it. Because of all of this, you still have $200 Legends Drains, but also have a $60 version.
This is a distinctly different situation when compared to something like Tarmogoyf, as any printing of the card is basically the Future Shifted printing (since you can play any version, in any format it's legal in), so all Tarmogoyf cards generally command the same price.
Why are reserved list cards worth so much, who pays such a high price to buy one? Do people really care to spend an extra $400 between a steam vent and a volcanic island for that extra 2 life of damage? It only might make a difference in less than 5% of games.
It is important especially when you are paying 1 life to fetch that land via Scalding Tarn. So losing 3 life for a land, vs 1 life is big. Even more so when you play more than one fetch land and one dual land in a deck.
Would you sit down to a game of Magic if your opponent told you, you had to start at 16 or 18 life, just because of what cards were in your deck?
Seems we have many of the same cards in our decks. How do you like Blood Tribute? I liked the idea of it, but the more I thought about it the effect just didn't seem that great. Plus with the ability to tutor for Sorin Markov, I figured he was enough.
One thing I see missing that you have, is card draw. I've considered Necropotence, but kind of fear the skipped draw phase and the significant life lose. I guess maybe that's where stuff like Blood Tribute would shine, when you can gain a bunch of life. What about the other draw effects in your deck? Would you play any other draw spells that you dont currently own, because they arent foil or are to expensive?
I think they are fine. They are a product that was by sold Wizards and are the same size as Magic cards. besides the square boarders. Even the Championship deck cards with the gold boarders around the front and no MTG back are find with sleeves. You can pick up a Gaea's Cradle from the Champs decks for around $40 vs $350 for the Urza's version. The only thing that would stand out is the gold boarder around the front of the card, unlike the gold boarder that's on the back of the CE cards (which is hidden with sleeves).
Yeah, sorry. I was editing the post after I entered all the changes. I didn't want to lose all of what I typed if something glitched. But I added the reasoning above.
From this experience, I realized that I need to make the deck a little less "fun". That said, I am thinking of going with a Stax kind of build, which I think is inline with the whole vampire theme.
Two other cards are Darkness and Diabolic Edict. Darkness seems like the right card to shut down infinite attacks and since it's usually done with one creature Edict seems right too.
Some other changes are shown in the spoiler below. Currently I have 3 open spots in the deck before I take anything else out. I am considering more Stax like cards, but also some more Tutors like Beseech the Queen or Mastermind's Acquisition (possibly replacing Diabolic Tutor). I also mentioned Wasteland, but am considering Null Rod too. So any suggestion would be appreciated on what to use to fill out those last 3 slots.
Finally, I think I will switch to Anowon, the Ruin Sage, at least when I play with the people I did last time. For more casual/fun groups I will still stick with Baron.
The Khak, I like a lot your transformation sideboard deck with Pack Rat, ¿Do you play Cryptbreaker?, I think Cryptbreaker can be better than Pack Rat, ¿What do you think?
The thing about Pack Rat is that, it can copy itself allowing it to dodge removal spells. Cryptbreaker just makes 2/2 tokens. Also consider that Cryptbreaker requires you to tap it, so you can't attack with it and use its ability like you can with Pack Rat, this also create some issues with summoning sickness.
Do NOT copy Death's Shadow unless you are under 13 life...
Also, I love that you can do this at instant speed; Swing with Lavaz with Tetsuko out, after blocks turn them into Phage.
Im not sure if I am misunderstanding the card or not. But Lazav, the Multifarious, keeps the name Lazav, the Multifarious and Death's Shadow text names Death's Shadow and not something like "this creature". So does the -X/-X even apply?
- Nyxathid (no opponent chosen, so it's just +6/+4 for 1BB...not amazing, but not awful)
I was thinking about cards like this, because a few have already been mentioned, but does Lazav, the Multifarious get that second ability? The card reads that Nyxathid gets that effect, but since Lazav doesn't take on the name Nyxathid does it even do anything, even if you could name an opponent?
There will be a learning curve to adapting to the new site, but I don't mind it. However, I do miss the simplistic layout of the old magiccards.info site.
However, it would seem that the owner just lost interest in the game and the site itself. Here is his reply from over on Reddit.
I really appreciate the kind words. They mean so much to me.
The truth is that I lost interest in Magic a long time ago, and with it, also lost my connection to the community. But I had built the site with a specific goal in mind, to provide a simple but very fast and powerful card search engine, and I always knew this served a particular audience. Maintaining the site, keeping it lean, that became my hobby, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
But as you noticed, I've started dragging my feet and adding new editions became harder and harder. There are so many promos, and extras, you wouldn't believe it, and I fell further and further behind. I also wanted to add new features and improve existing ones, and build a better mobile experience, but I couldn't find the time to do so. (I realize the irony in the desktop experience being a pretty good mobile experience, how well it aged!) On top of that, I got emails every day telling me about how this card is translated wrong in Spanish or Korean, sending me scans and encouragement and telling me that I suck. Last month I had to accept that this was no longer sustainable.
When I discovered Scryfall it was everything that I imagined MagicCards.Info would be some day. It's different, and I know very well how hard change can be, but please give it a shot. What makes this game is the community, and they're trying to build one. Only a community can maintain a site this like, and a site like Scryfall deserves one. Send them your feedback, listen to their responses, and support them. That's all I can ask for.
Thank you for all your support over the years. It's been a pleasure!
You can also use Krovikan Vampire equipped with Thornbite Staff and Basilisk Collar to protect your own creatures. If a creature you control would die during combat, would be destroyed, etc., you can simply ping them with a deathtouch Krovikan Vampire and it'll return to your battlefield at the end of that turn. That's some nice super secret tech, if I say so myself .
Good observation, I didn't consider using it to protect my guys.
Another trick I considered, even without Basilisk Collar, was to just use the Thornbite Staff to pluck creatures that would die from combat damage, especially when I am not even involved in combat (one of my opponents attacks another opponent).
You left out one of the biggest key differences between Poisonous and Infect. Unlike Infect, Poisonous stacks, Rule 702.69b says "If a creature has multiple instances of poisonous, each triggers separately". Because of this, having multiple Virulent Slivers on the battlefield will effectively give all slivers Poisonous 2,3, or a max 4 (baring any Clone effects).
People do have preference for the original versions, however 93/94 contributes significantly to that. Look at cards like Erhnam Djinn, it sees play in Erhnamgeddon builds and the AN version commands a considerable premium over other printings.
Also, consider the case of Lord of Atlantis, it sees virtually zero play in 93/94, but it's popular in modern day merfolk builds (Legacy & Modern) and it's original two printings in Alpha and Beta can be had for around $200-$300. However, a card like Serra Angel, that sees no real play besides the 93/94 format costs around $400. The kicker is Serra is an Uncommon, while Lord of Atlantis is a Rare. If Lord of Atlantis was played in 93/94, we would see pricing on it like Savannah Lions, another Alpha/Beta rare. The difference between the two is that Lions sees a good bit of play in 93/94 and because of that costs $500+. And I don't think anyone would argue that Savannah Lions is anymore iconic than Lord of Atlantis.
The interesting thing about Mana Drain, is that the original printing didn't move much, if at all. It's just that the new card was worth $50-$60. Why this is interesting is because the printing of Drain, doesn't actually do anything for the people that want it. In the 93/94 format, you must have a card with the original artwork and old frame, so any modern reprinting does nothing to help offset that demand. The only other two formats that play the card are Vintage and EDH, and Mana Drain in Vintage is not seeing the play it once did, add in that EDH players only want one copy; you just don't have much demand for it. Because of all of this, you still have $200 Legends Drains, but also have a $60 version.
This is a distinctly different situation when compared to something like Tarmogoyf, as any printing of the card is basically the Future Shifted printing (since you can play any version, in any format it's legal in), so all Tarmogoyf cards generally command the same price.
It is important especially when you are paying 1 life to fetch that land via Scalding Tarn. So losing 3 life for a land, vs 1 life is big. Even more so when you play more than one fetch land and one dual land in a deck.
Would you sit down to a game of Magic if your opponent told you, you had to start at 16 or 18 life, just because of what cards were in your deck?
Seems we have many of the same cards in our decks. How do you like Blood Tribute? I liked the idea of it, but the more I thought about it the effect just didn't seem that great. Plus with the ability to tutor for Sorin Markov, I figured he was enough.
One thing I see missing that you have, is card draw. I've considered Necropotence, but kind of fear the skipped draw phase and the significant life lose. I guess maybe that's where stuff like Blood Tribute would shine, when you can gain a bunch of life. What about the other draw effects in your deck? Would you play any other draw spells that you dont currently own, because they arent foil or are to expensive?
Finally, I forgot to add in Mana Web, for my Staxish build it seems brutal with Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth out.
Here's a Champs Cradle if no one has seen it before. https://scryfall.com/card/wc99/ml321/gaeas-cradle
Yeah, sorry. I was editing the post after I entered all the changes. I didn't want to lose all of what I typed if something glitched. But I added the reasoning above.
From this experience, I realized that I need to make the deck a little less "fun". That said, I am thinking of going with a Stax kind of build, which I think is inline with the whole vampire theme.
I've added Crucible of Worlds and Strip Mine for the miserable Strip lock possibilities; probably add a Wasteland too. Also, added Leyline of the Void as it seems like the meta will have some grave-based decks. Plus it allows for the Helm of Obedience combo and is a little dirty with Ill-Gotten Gains.
I've also added Viridian Longbow to take advantage of cards like Soul Collector and Krovikan Vampire.
Two other cards are Darkness and Diabolic Edict. Darkness seems like the right card to shut down infinite attacks and since it's usually done with one creature Edict seems right too.
Some other changes are shown in the spoiler below. Currently I have 3 open spots in the deck before I take anything else out. I am considering more Stax like cards, but also some more Tutors like Beseech the Queen or Mastermind's Acquisition (possibly replacing Diabolic Tutor). I also mentioned Wasteland, but am considering Null Rod too. So any suggestion would be appreciated on what to use to fill out those last 3 slots.
Finally, I think I will switch to Anowon, the Ruin Sage, at least when I play with the people I did last time. For more casual/fun groups I will still stick with Baron.
In: Gatekeeper of Malakir, Vampire Nighthawk, Bloodhusk Ritualist, Sengir Vampire, Soul Collector, Krovikan Vampire, Mephidross Vampire, Viridian Longbow, Jet Medallion, Lashwrithe, Helm of Obedience, Ill-Gotten Gains, Darkness, Diabolic Edict, Leyline of the Void, Smokestack, Crucible of Worlds
Use www.scryfall.com advance search feature to find stuff that names "instant spells".
The thing about Pack Rat is that, it can copy itself allowing it to dodge removal spells. Cryptbreaker just makes 2/2 tokens. Also consider that Cryptbreaker requires you to tap it, so you can't attack with it and use its ability like you can with Pack Rat, this also create some issues with summoning sickness.
However, since you're playing white, your removal dies to Force of Will, Counterspell, or Mana Drain *shrug*.
Im not sure if I am misunderstanding the card or not. But Lazav, the Multifarious, keeps the name Lazav, the Multifarious and Death's Shadow text names Death's Shadow and not something like "this creature". So does the -X/-X even apply?
I was thinking about cards like this, because a few have already been mentioned, but does Lazav, the Multifarious get that second ability? The card reads that Nyxathid gets that effect, but since Lazav doesn't take on the name Nyxathid does it even do anything, even if you could name an opponent?
However, it would seem that the owner just lost interest in the game and the site itself. Here is his reply from over on Reddit.
Good observation, I didn't consider using it to protect my guys.
Another trick I considered, even without Basilisk Collar, was to just use the Thornbite Staff to pluck creatures that would die from combat damage, especially when I am not even involved in combat (one of my opponents attacks another opponent).