Assuming you only block with one creature, it doesn't really do anything other than negate trample damage. So it might be alright in a token deck. Did you have something in mind with this card?
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My apologies, children, for I am afraid I cannot save you all.
Assuming you only block with one creature, it doesn't really do anything other than negate trample damage. So it might be alright in a token deck. Did you have something in mind with this card?
It definitely would not make sense in a deck with few blockers. I could possibly see using it in Trostani as there are tons of tokens and some hugecreatures in that deck, but that list is sort of tight.
It's hard for me to gauge the effectiveness of this card by reading it and I was trying to see if anyone has had practical experience with it.
great in token or swarm decks since you can quadruple or more block their big guy to kill him and only lose one of yours. Kind of like a defensive Odric (M13 legend guy).
Have a helicopter drop you off out front. Light your cigar with a small Indonesian boy holding a black lotus. Then bust out a craw wurm deck with no sleeves. Raw dog shuffle, loose terribly, flip the table, leave in a hovercraft.
It's similar to blocking with creatures with Banding.
This is exactly what I was going to say. If you want to see the versatility of Defensive Formation's functions, investigate banding. The card pretty much reads "blocking creatures you control have banding." (Or some other 'technical' wording, so if you cite something like Battering Ram you would get something similar to "At the beginning of combat on your opponent's turn, creatures you control gain banding until end of combat.")
great in token or swarm decks since you can quadruple or more block their big guy to kill him and only lose one of yours. Kind of like a defensive Odric (M13 legend guy).
Hmm. Maybe I'll try it out in Trostani tokens.
Or maybe down the road I'll build an Odric or something and throw this in.
It's similar to blocking with creatures with Banding.
And Banding is arguably the jankiest ability in the entire game, so I think that about sums up this enchantment.
I suppose it fits in theme with Odric, but it's really completely different, since Odric's ability is offensive and it lets you pick off weak creatures or bypass all blockers in general, whereas Defensive Formation doesn't actually let you select which of the attackers deal damage, it only lets you assign the combat damage inevitably being dealt.
Assuming you only block with one creature, it doesn't really do anything other than negate trample damage. So it might be alright in a token deck. Did you have something in mind with this card?
Also, Rafiq absolutely hates that card, so if your opponent's playing Rafiq and using trample, it's a good trick.
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Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
And Banding is arguably the jankiest ability in the entire game, so I think that about sums up this enchantment.
Banding isn't as powerful as some keyword abilities, but it lets you pull off some interesting combats that many opponents don't understand due to their lack of knowledge about the ability.
I've got a Bird(/Soldier) tribal deck with Soraya the Falconer at the helm. Her activated ability is actually relevant surprisingly often, and her lord ability certainly doesn't hurt.
I've got a Bird(/Soldier) tribal deck with Soraya the Falconer at the helm. Her activated ability is actually relevant surprisingly often, and her lord ability certainly doesn't hurt.
Banding isn't as powerful as some keyword abilities, but it lets you pull off some interesting combats that many opponents don't understand due to their lack of knowledge about the ability.
I've got a Bird(/Soldier) tribal deck with Soraya the Falconer at the helm. Her activated ability is actually relevant surprisingly often, and her lord ability certainly doesn't hurt.
That sounds awesome. What a flavorful idea. I'd be interested in seeing the list as well.
The reason I picked Soraya in the first place has a story to it. I had a Thada Adel, Acquisitor deck for a long time, then I got it in my head to build Jaya Ballard, Task Mage. Then I told myself I wanted a mono-color deck for each color, and I wanted them connected somehow. I noticed that both Thada and Jaya were 2/2 creatures that cost 1MM, so I made that the criteria for picking my white, black, and green generals.
Black was easy -- Toshiro Umezawa is the only card that meets those criteria in his color. Green only has Dosan and Ezuri, so I went with Ezuri, Renegade Leader elf tribal. White, on the other hand, has Soraya as well as Lieutenant Kirtar, Pianna, Nomad Captain, and Tivadar of Thorn. Soraya and Kirtar looked more interesting than the other two, and I could obviously put one in the other's deck. I went with the more unusual general that would always let me have a Lord, rather than the general that serves as removal.
Has anyone used this to positive effect? Or is it total jank?
It definitely would not make sense in a deck with few blockers. I could possibly see using it in Trostani as there are tons of tokens and some huge creatures in that deck, but that list is sort of tight.
It's hard for me to gauge the effectiveness of this card by reading it and I was trying to see if anyone has had practical experience with it.
Of course if you want to build some fun interactions around it that sounds like fun.
Would learn my licks with a bottle neck slide
This is exactly what I was going to say. If you want to see the versatility of Defensive Formation's functions, investigate banding. The card pretty much reads "blocking creatures you control have banding." (Or some other 'technical' wording, so if you cite something like Battering Ram you would get something similar to "At the beginning of combat on your opponent's turn, creatures you control gain banding until end of combat.")
Hmm. Maybe I'll try it out in Trostani tokens.
Or maybe down the road I'll build an Odric or something and throw this in.
And Banding is arguably the jankiest ability in the entire game, so I think that about sums up this enchantment.
I suppose it fits in theme with Odric, but it's really completely different, since Odric's ability is offensive and it lets you pick off weak creatures or bypass all blockers in general, whereas Defensive Formation doesn't actually let you select which of the attackers deal damage, it only lets you assign the combat damage inevitably being dealt.
Legacy: GWR Enchantress <--That's my banner! (lol tinypic removed it)
Casual: WB [[Primer]]Clerics Tribal; BU Affinity
EDH: ...U [[Primer]]Arcum Dagsson; BG Legal Stax; B Illegal Stax
Proxy: .WX TriniStax
Other stuff: [[Official]]Shuffling, Truth + Maths
It can be used to stop Blightsteel Colossus (and his affinity for Animar or Mycosynth Golem) or Spinebiter or Putrefax, as well as annoying swords of stuff and junk on tramplers, but that's about it.
Also, Rafiq absolutely hates that card, so if your opponent's playing Rafiq and using trample, it's a good trick.
On phasing:
I've got a Bird(/Soldier) tribal deck with Soraya the Falconer at the helm. Her activated ability is actually relevant surprisingly often, and her lord ability certainly doesn't hurt.
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I give you props for running a Soraya deck.
Do you have a list posted?
That sounds awesome. What a flavorful idea. I'd be interested in seeing the list as well.
UAzami, Lady of Scrolls
BMaralen of the Mornsong
RDiaochan, Artful Beauty
Pauper
R">Candra's Spitfire
Just for you guys
The reason I picked Soraya in the first place has a story to it. I had a Thada Adel, Acquisitor deck for a long time, then I got it in my head to build Jaya Ballard, Task Mage. Then I told myself I wanted a mono-color deck for each color, and I wanted them connected somehow. I noticed that both Thada and Jaya were 2/2 creatures that cost 1MM, so I made that the criteria for picking my white, black, and green generals.
Black was easy -- Toshiro Umezawa is the only card that meets those criteria in his color. Green only has Dosan and Ezuri, so I went with Ezuri, Renegade Leader elf tribal. White, on the other hand, has Soraya as well as Lieutenant Kirtar, Pianna, Nomad Captain, and Tivadar of Thorn. Soraya and Kirtar looked more interesting than the other two, and I could obviously put one in the other's deck. I went with the more unusual general that would always let me have a Lord, rather than the general that serves as removal.
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)