When I saw that post, my mouth was filled with much profanity. Back when I started playing Magic nearly a decade ago (started right around the Mirrodin/8th edition), slivers were still a thing (from Onslaught) and a friend or two of mine ran sliver decks. I was literally afraid to play them, all I had was a modified (not too well) mono-red Goblin deck and I was easily squashable. To me, slivers became a sort-of fear of the dark, like something that traumatized me in my childhood and which I fear and immediately seek to completely wreck whenever I play against it.
Putting nostalgia aside, from a flavor standpoint, slivers are creatures of evolution so seeing them becoming bipedal doesn't surprise me much. Heck, they look pretty cool, pretty alien too. I like seeing MtG pushing outside the box with fantasy elements, one of the reasons why I loved New Phyrexia. I also love tribal elements in Magic, so slivers are always up for that.
From a gameplay standpoint, when I was 11 and playing those slivers with my dinky mono-red deck that was completely terrible because I barely had a clue how to build a deck, I could figure out perfectly what slivers did. New players will get the hang of it. I'm going to looking forward to seeing any viable sliver decks break into standard.
I can't even . . . . I'm just . . . . My poor wallet. I was already intrigued about the new Chandra (Yeah, I'm a fan of her. Jace can go die in a fire, pun intended). But now we get more slivers?! While I'm leaning toward flavor disappointment with the departure of good ol' meathooks everywhere and parasitic abilities, I think I can get psat it enough to give the new ones a shot. I've been waiting since Eventide's Goats for something like this.
Now, I want to examine what's known so far for them, in terms of power and abilities.
Sentinel Sliver. 1W for a vigilance sliver-bear? I'd call that a signifigant upgrade over Synchronus Sliver, the only one of the hive to give vigilance until now.
Steelform Sliver. 2W for a butt-bear. I would call it a decent merging of Plated Sliver and Watcher Sliver at a respectable mana cost, seeing as it boosts itself once it hits the board. . . . I'm just going to ignore Armor Sliver.
Battle Sliver. 4R for a 3/3 that grants +2/+0. Essentially a one-sided Bonesplitter Sliver with a bigger body and one more mana? Not bad, when you consider that the 5-drop spot for Slivers will probably be finisher-style cards, and this one seems like a contender for that spot.
Blur Sliver. 2R for a haste-bear? Not that terrible, even on its own. +1 mana over Heart Sliver for a bigger body, and one-sided haste? Looking better already.
Striking Sliver. R for a 1/1 with first strike? Considering it's competition is just Talon Sliver, and Spitting Sliver, this one is definitely a major upgrade in power for the hive. I approve!
Groundshaker Sliver. A hefty 6G for a 5/5 trampler. Doesn't seem overly strong outside of limited, mostly due to 7-CC (unless they bring back Gemhide Sliver). However, it's pretty close to on-spec, considering the previous trample-granting meathooks were Battering Sliver and Horned Sliver.
. . . . Keep them coming. There's no real disappointments other than flavor so far(in my opinion).
They are really killing the classic look Slivers have always had. I understand that it is desirable to change the face of magic a bit here and there, but something as iconic as slivers should not physically change that much and it looks like the kind of have. it is a sad day in MTG.
Why did they change the mechanic to now affect only your Slivers? It's totally against the sliver flavor. They help each other regardless, they are their own allies.
With the new wording we are goint to get ZERO actual reprints, and the cards are going to function way too differently. Someone making a casual sliver deck will only want the new ones - why am I helping my opponent's slivers?
Plus, zero connection with Ravnica and Theros to boot.
I've loved slivers since I first picked up their Tempest theme deck back in the day. I'm not going to ***** and moan like some of the posters here because I am just going to enjoy these new slivers for what they are, a fun way to make my friends rage-quit our games!
WotC hates humans, I mean they don't even employee any. Rosewater is a hobbit, Gottlieb is a gremlin, and Brian David Marshall is apparently some sort of sexy beast.
Attitudes like this are what is killing Magic: The Gathering:
Really like the idea of slivers in a core set.
Really hate the art choice for them so far.
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Hey guys so I've actually moved on from commander on to 60 card decks so I don't have any commander decks.
Anyway I've started my own gameplay channel in which I play games (Magic also)
I do appreciate the fact that Slivers are returning in the set following the multicolor block (just like in Time Spiral, now that I think about it). Need all that mana fixing for your casual five-color Sliver decks.
I'm not just a huge fan of the redesign, but I'll get used to it I'm sure.
As for the one-sided-ness, while I can see where the complaints are coming from in a flavor perspective, but from a mechanical perspective it makes more sense, it's less complex, and on top of that it simply follows what R&D are doing with Lord effects nowadays.
Mostly, I'm just looking forward to being able to make a Sliver deck again!
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Someday, I will own all of the dragons. All of them. 43/111, approximately 39% complete. Over a third done.
(calling it now; there will be a cycle of Legendary dual lands with Basic Land types in Theros block)
... AAAAAAAAND I was wrong
Only once have Slivers made an impact in tournament formats and it wasn't that great a deck.
slivers aren't broken. They're actually fairly easy to disrupt.
Broken doesn't mean 'dominates all tournaments ever.' And no, seeing that I have a sliver deck composed of some if the worst slivers, they really aren't easy to disrupt. It invariably becomes archenemy, and I still win without much effort.
I haven't played long enough to be outraged by the new Sliver art, but I for one very much like it. I did have a friend who had picked up a Sliver Premium deck when he was young and did some cool things with those cards, but I like the idea of these old aliens returning with a brand new bipedal look.
Basically, they're doing what they should do, and consider the new template a formatting change at best. Because honestly, for how much people talk about the whole "slivers should be symmetrical", I played with them for years, and I maybe had it come up twice? If that many times?
These aren't slivers. They are art from sci-fi video game art books copypasted onto fantasy-themed basic land art, given a sliver name and creature type, and sent out to the printers. Not a fan.
conversation at wotc:
"we need to use slivers again, they are a fan-favorite and one of mtg's most beloved original races"
"ok good idea. BUT the kids these days (note: it is the 1980's) sure love those Predator and Alien movies, let's change slivers into those so that they'll be look badass and recognizable to players that never played with a sliver before"
My first constructed deck was a slivers one. It gives me a lot of nostalgia, but I don't want them to come back :V. Man, now I need to add global destruction to my izzet... and I don't know any card to do that in those colors xD. Maybe they will print some artifact like: "t, Sacrifice Dumb Artifact: Exile all slivers."
These aren't Slivers, the effect is one sided. This is some kind of abomination. Maybe a Sliver Legion reprint (or I guess functional reprint) at Mythic? Or maybe Sliver Overlord since Sliver Queen is on the restricted list.
Really like the idea of slivers in a core set.
Really hate the art choice for them so far.
Agreed. I loved slivers the first time, the second time, and the third time. But, the art is terrible. I also like the one-sided ability. It is a nice update to the slivers. I know some people don't like it, but it is nice to see the opening up of more design space for slivers. They had about every ability added to them, and it would be hard to redo them without something like this. I'm sad to see no Sliver Queen (I know it is on the reserve list), but I'm hopeful there will be another lord like Sliver Prince or Sliver Empress or the Archduke of Slivers. Maybe even Queen of the Slivers.
I have no problem with the new look for these Slivers. The entire point of the Slivers is that they constantly evolve and adapt. Did you really think they'd stay in the form of weird little bug things forever?
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EDH Decks
:boros:Gisela, Blade of Goldnight:boros:
:orzhov:Doran, the Siege Tower:golgari:
:azorius:Rasputin Dreamweaver:azorius:
:izzet:Melek, Izzet Paragon:izzet:
:simic:Edric, Spymaster of Trest:simic:
:gruul:Maelstrom Wanderer:simic:
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Putting nostalgia aside, from a flavor standpoint, slivers are creatures of evolution so seeing them becoming bipedal doesn't surprise me much. Heck, they look pretty cool, pretty alien too. I like seeing MtG pushing outside the box with fantasy elements, one of the reasons why I loved New Phyrexia. I also love tribal elements in Magic, so slivers are always up for that.
From a gameplay standpoint, when I was 11 and playing those slivers with my dinky mono-red deck that was completely terrible because I barely had a clue how to build a deck, I could figure out perfectly what slivers did. New players will get the hang of it. I'm going to looking forward to seeing any viable sliver decks break into standard.
P.S. Cavern of Souls just got a lot better.
I thought bradywalkers were the neowalkers?
/confused
I mean the terminology, yes they were interchangeable.
In a core set?
Almost no chance. Only at mythic rare.
Now, I want to examine what's known so far for them, in terms of power and abilities.
Sentinel Sliver. 1W for a vigilance sliver-bear? I'd call that a signifigant upgrade over Synchronus Sliver, the only one of the hive to give vigilance until now.
Steelform Sliver. 2W for a butt-bear. I would call it a decent merging of Plated Sliver and Watcher Sliver at a respectable mana cost, seeing as it boosts itself once it hits the board. . . . I'm just going to ignore Armor Sliver.
Battle Sliver. 4R for a 3/3 that grants +2/+0. Essentially a one-sided Bonesplitter Sliver with a bigger body and one more mana? Not bad, when you consider that the 5-drop spot for Slivers will probably be finisher-style cards, and this one seems like a contender for that spot.
Blur Sliver. 2R for a haste-bear? Not that terrible, even on its own. +1 mana over Heart Sliver for a bigger body, and one-sided haste? Looking better already.
Striking Sliver. R for a 1/1 with first strike? Considering it's competition is just Talon Sliver, and Spitting Sliver, this one is definitely a major upgrade in power for the hive. I approve!
Groundshaker Sliver. A hefty 6G for a 5/5 trampler. Doesn't seem overly strong outside of limited, mostly due to 7-CC (unless they bring back Gemhide Sliver). However, it's pretty close to on-spec, considering the previous trample-granting meathooks were Battering Sliver and Horned Sliver.
. . . . Keep them coming. There's no real disappointments other than flavor so far(in my opinion).
It pretty much has to be.
Current post- Grand Prix KC Modern Postmortem (7/7/13)
Why did they change the mechanic to now affect only your Slivers? It's totally against the sliver flavor. They help each other regardless, they are their own allies.
With the new wording we are goint to get ZERO actual reprints, and the cards are going to function way too differently. Someone making a casual sliver deck will only want the new ones - why am I helping my opponent's slivers?
Plus, zero connection with Ravnica and Theros to boot.
L-A-M-E. Worst "returning" mechanic ever.
Godwin's Law. And darnit, that means you lose and we have to suffer through another sliver infestation.
I am very intrigued to learn whether there will be multi-colored slivers, though...
But I still hate them!
~M
**** you wotc. All of my initial excitement is gone.
Slivers are far from broken.
Attitudes like this are what is killing Magic: The Gathering:
Really hate the art choice for them so far.
Anyway I've started my own gameplay channel in which I play games (Magic also)
Twitch:
https://www.twitch.tv/dies_to_doom_blade
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/UpsidedownHandshake
R Citizen Cane (Feldon of the Third Path)
As for the one-sided-ness, while I can see where the complaints are coming from in a flavor perspective, but from a mechanical perspective it makes more sense, it's less complex, and on top of that it simply follows what R&D are doing with Lord effects nowadays.
Mostly, I'm just looking forward to being able to make a Sliver deck again!
43/111, approximately 39% complete. Over a third done.
(calling it now; there will be a cycle of Legendary dual lands with Basic Land types in Theros block)
... AAAAAAAAND I was wrong
The Attention Deficit Guy URGU
Broken doesn't mean 'dominates all tournaments ever.' And no, seeing that I have a sliver deck composed of some if the worst slivers, they really aren't easy to disrupt. It invariably becomes archenemy, and I still win without much effort.
EDH is a CASUAL format. Get with the program, or GTFO.
They are broken for decks without wrath or something like that.
Against many other things, you just played Ward Sliver and called it a day.
Weird Idea of the Month (Standard)
RGWNaya Token CommandoWGR
Rate/discuss my decks :D(almost all formats)
Standard
Orzhov Voltron Superheroes
Modern
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Legacy
UGBack to Square OneGU
EDH
GWURafiq of the Many Wins (1vs1)UWG
Jarad's Turbo Suicidal Squad (Multiplayer)
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Are you Afraid of Ghosts? You Better Be!
Incorrect. Of the slivers revealed so far, they've all been at least as efficient as their previous counterparts, if not more efficient.
Groundshaker Sliver - Battering Sliver+1 for +1/+1
Blur Sliver - Heart Sliver+1 for +1/+1; Alternately, Reflex Sliver-1
Battle Sliver - Bonesplitter Sliver+1 for +1/+1
Sentinel Sliver - Synchronous Sliver-3 for -1/-1
Steelform Sliver - Plated Sliver+2 for +1/+1
Striking Sliver - Talon Sliver-1
Basically, they're doing what they should do, and consider the new template a formatting change at best. Because honestly, for how much people talk about the whole "slivers should be symmetrical", I played with them for years, and I maybe had it come up twice? If that many times?
conversation at wotc:
"we need to use slivers again, they are a fan-favorite and one of mtg's most beloved original races"
"ok good idea. BUT the kids these days (note: it is the 1980's) sure love those Predator and Alien movies, let's change slivers into those so that they'll be look badass and recognizable to players that never played with a sliver before"
Weird Idea of the Month (Standard)
RGWNaya Token CommandoWGR
Rate/discuss my decks :D(almost all formats)
Standard
Orzhov Voltron Superheroes
Modern
Infectors
Legacy
UGBack to Square OneGU
EDH
GWURafiq of the Many Wins (1vs1)UWG
Jarad's Turbo Suicidal Squad (Multiplayer)
Pauper
Are you Afraid of Ghosts? You Better Be!
+1 but I don't know what it should be
it should include "predator" though imo
Agreed. I loved slivers the first time, the second time, and the third time. But, the art is terrible. I also like the one-sided ability. It is a nice update to the slivers. I know some people don't like it, but it is nice to see the opening up of more design space for slivers. They had about every ability added to them, and it would be hard to redo them without something like this. I'm sad to see no Sliver Queen (I know it is on the reserve list), but I'm hopeful there will be another lord like Sliver Prince or Sliver Empress or the Archduke of Slivers. Maybe even Queen of the Slivers.
:boros:Gisela, Blade of Goldnight:boros:
:orzhov:Doran, the Siege Tower:golgari:
:azorius:Rasputin Dreamweaver:azorius:
:izzet:Melek, Izzet Paragon:izzet:
:simic:Edric, Spymaster of Trest:simic:
:gruul:Maelstrom Wanderer:simic: