I hope they put something in to protect planeswalkers from 1 mana 3 damage burn. Why even play with planeswalkers? What happened to shock? I'm not liking this move.
U kidin me.
Incinerate or Shard Volley never made Planeswalkers scoop it up, this won't either.
Maelstrom Pulse is a much bigger threat to Planeswalkers.
Funny you mention this, when I heard it was getting reprinted, I frantically searched for my one copy buried deep in my casual/nostalgia decks, thinking all the while "if this is uncommon or, God forbid, rare, at least I got one of this suckers".
After it was revealed it was common I was relieved, now I will only keep cracking packs of m10 until I get the remaining three copies (any statistics fiend out there wants to calculate how many packs do I have to open before it happens?)
Probably not too many. You could always trade for them at the prerelease if its that desperate. What is the rarity of a single common from a large set anyway? You can get doubles of a common in a sealed pool, (6 packs) so who knows?
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I am soo psyched Lightning bolt and Ball lightning are back! I already have playsets of each. one of my ball lightnings are DCI foil and I have a beta Lightning bolt. I can't wait to use them again.
It's not strictly worse at all. I know bolt is usually better in the kind of deck that would run the sparky, but not better 100% of times since (for example) it cannot wear an equip, or be pumped or sacced to something
I think those exceptions would be small corner cases. If we take corner cases into account, no card is strictly better than any other (the very existence of Mindslaver says no card is 100% better than any other anyway).
Fact is, in 99% plus of the time, you'd rather have the bolt. Same mana cost, same amount of potential damage. I'd say that's more than enough to warrant "strictly better" status.
Well not every player is going to be playing red (insert assumption here based on one card). And it's not just lightning bolt, no one in their right mind would play a Planeswalker unless they had a way to defend the investment anyway. In the Core Set unless you splash green they won't be coming out earlier than turn 3, and by then there's much more than Lightning Bolt that can be played.
Then again to me Planeswalkers always seemed like a silly gimmick anyway. I haven't bothered checking out T2 since I picked up Magic again to know if they're really worth a putting in a deck and protecting in general. I know I don't see them in any Legacy decks, heh.
Games have been won on the backs of planeswalkers. They get absurd if they're left to roll, and in standard they have been left to roll.
I've got two old sets of bolts, and I think they look better. Just wish the border was black...
U kidin me.
Incinerate or Shard Volley never made Planeswalkers scoop it up, this won't either.
Maelstrom Pulse is a much bigger threat to Planeswalkers.
Could someone explain to me how maelstrom pulse is the bigger threat to planeswalkers since there would only be one of any planeswalker in play at any time that the caster would want destroyed?
If you don't understand priority, you don't understand magic.
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Could someone explain to me how maelstrom pulse is the bigger threat to planeswalkers since there would only be one of any planeswalker in play at any time that the caster would want destroyed?
ok, burn, damage spells, they take off the counters on planeswalkers so you have to do enough damage with them to kill them, later in teh game that CAN be difficult.
pulse, has the benefit of killing anything on the field but land pretty much, which means no matter how big your walker is it dies, same reason oblivion ring is considered good.
the ability for pulse to kill more then one permanent is a bonus, not nearly its reason for being really good. its being a 3 mana sorcery that can kill almost anything you can put on the board other then land.
Casual situations and playgroups are so diverse You cannot make stats about it and claim normality.
Which is why I didn't. I was talking about competitive play. I guess I should have specified it.
It's just that, in a casual setting, it's very hard to say any card is strictly better than another. I'd be hard pressed to convince you to run Wild Mongrel rather than Grizzly Bears in a casual Muraganda Petroglyphs deck.
I don't see what the problem with LB and planeswalkers is: I play Garruk Wildspeaker, and before my opponent gets priority, I add a counter to him to untap two lands. Since adding the counter is the cost, he's already got four counters on him when the ability goes on the stack.
If he kills him through combat, well I didn't have enough board position to protect him anyway. If he kills him with another burn spell, sweet. I just played a two mana lightning rod that cost him two cards.
I don't see what the problem with LB and planeswalkers is: I play Garruk Wildspeaker, and before my opponent gets priority, I add a counter to him to untap two lands. Since adding the counter is the cost, he's already got four counters on him when the ability goes on the stack.
If he kills him through combat, well I didn't have enough board position to protect him anyway. If he kills him with another burn spell, sweet. I just played a two mana lightning rod that cost him two cards.
Ok, thats Garruk, but the other planeswalkers aren't Garruk. It looks like if your going up against a red deck you probably will not use their MINUS ability until its safe to do so. I have never played with Lightning Bolt before, so I don't know how powerful it is. But I can say, by just looking at it, 1 mana, instant speed, knock off 3 loyalty counters: doesn't promote playing planewalkers.
mwahahaaha...this has got to be the greatest time for mono red players like me.
I get Ball Lightning, and Lightning Bolt.....and who knows what else is gona be in there. I just may have to get back into competitive Magic now
I've actually never played against too many Planeswalkers, but I know how much of a pain they are with my limited experience. 1 mana at their end step to drop off 3 counters and slow them down?? I'll take that.
On the note of the artwork for the 4 cards: I love them. Great job by the artists
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I somehow find it unbelievable for Lightning Bolt to be printed as common (was expecting it as uncommon). That's good I guess, at least I don't have to spend $3~ for each anymore (assuming it won't reach that price).
I somehow find it unbelievable for Lightning Bolt to be printed as common (was expecting it as uncommon). That's good I guess, at least I don't have to spend $3~ for each anymore (assuming it won't reach that price).
It's quite fine at common, it's just that people are remembering it's power compared to other cards when it was printed and not compared to cards now. People's excitement have them giving it more credit than it deserves.
It's quite fine at common, it's just that people are remembering it's power compared to other cards when it was printed and not compared to cards now. People's excitement have them giving it more credit than it deserves.
Exactly.
"Oh no, he killed my T1 Hippie, now I am screwed"
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Judging from the incredulity of LB coming back, even though I don't play constructed tournaments I might have to start. Against any player not also playing red, before the game starts, I will show I am running LB's ...and the other player will auto forfeit. There is OBVIOUSLY no way any non red deck has a single chance against a deck running them.
Get a grip! Magic loves to keep red down because they view burn as too 'easy' of a way to win. If a guy is running 4 Bolts, 4 Chain Lightnings, 4 Incinerates, and 4 Flame Javelins (obviously not type 2) ..then yeah..you got something to worry about. But when is the last time a straight red burn deck (without Goblins) has won any major tournaments?? Granted, a deck like above would not be fun to play against, but neither is one running 12 or more counterspells. You play against your friends (as in group games) for fun, but when you play in tournaments winning is the ONLY thing that matters...not how much fun you had. I would love to see a straight burn deck without goblins be a top contender. Then hopefully you would never time out on a match...since your turn lasts all of 3 seconds (untap, draw, tap mana, burn, done).
Judging from the incredulity of LB coming back, even though I don't play constructed tournaments I might have to start. Against any player not also playing red, before the game starts, I will show I am running LB's ...and the other player will auto forfeit. There is OBVIOUSLY no way any non red deck has a single chance against a deck running them.
Get a grip! Magic loves to keep red down because they view burn as too 'easy' of a way to win. If a guy is running 4 Bolts, 4 Chain Lightnings, 4 Incinerates, and 4 Flame Javelins (obviously not type 2) ..then yeah..you got something to worry about. But when is the last time a straight red burn deck (without Goblins) has won any major tournaments?? Granted, a deck like above would not be fun to play against, but neither is one running 12 or more counterspells. You play against your friends (as in group games) for fun, but when you play in tournaments winning is the ONLY thing that matters...not how much fun you had. I would love to see a straight burn deck without goblins be a top contender. Then hopefully you would never time out on a match...since your turn lasts all of 3 seconds (untap, draw, tap mana, burn, done).
this is true, so many ppl play with full burn spells all they do is zap to the dome ALL DAY. its a very boring and unoriginal concept. But it does win consistantly so will probably see the RDW with ball lightning and crew there a lot now
But when is the last time a straight red burn deck (without Goblins) has won any major tournaments?? Granted, a deck like above would not be fun to play against, but neither is one running 12 or more counterspells. You play against your friends (as in group games) for fun, but when you play in tournaments winning is the ONLY thing that matters...not how much fun you had. I would love to see a straight burn deck without goblins be a top contender. Then hopefully you would never time out on a match...since your turn lasts all of 3 seconds (untap, draw, tap mana, burn, done).
Burn isn't (and really, never was), the main win condition in a deck. What "burn" decks do is play out cheap, efficient creatures, turn them sideways until the opponent is low enough life, then start throwing spells at their head. Lightning Bolt in Type 2 means that strategy will be a bit easier to pull off, that's all.
Since just about every deck with red in it did that anyways...
From what I can see the green card on the right side of the poster is Queen Ant (in Russian of course) based on the mana cost, ability cost, and rarity. The art seems to be different though, so is it the Pre-Release promo?
U kidin me.
Incinerate or Shard Volley never made Planeswalkers scoop it up, this won't either.
Maelstrom Pulse is a much bigger threat to Planeswalkers.
Probably not too many. You could always trade for them at the prerelease if its that desperate. What is the rarity of a single common from a large set anyway? You can get doubles of a common in a sealed pool, (6 packs) so who knows?
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Fact is, in 99% plus of the time, you'd rather have the bolt. Same mana cost, same amount of potential damage. I'd say that's more than enough to warrant "strictly better" status.
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Games have been won on the backs of planeswalkers. They get absurd if they're left to roll, and in standard they have been left to roll.
I've got two old sets of bolts, and I think they look better. Just wish the border was black...
This is a Shivan Ampersand
Could someone explain to me how maelstrom pulse is the bigger threat to planeswalkers since there would only be one of any planeswalker in play at any time that the caster would want destroyed?
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If you don't understand priority, you don't understand magic.
Don't trade cards you don't know the value of! Buy a smartphone or pocket pad! save the, "MOTL price guide" for paper and foil prices to your phone/pad as a text file once a week!
ok, burn, damage spells, they take off the counters on planeswalkers so you have to do enough damage with them to kill them, later in teh game that CAN be difficult.
pulse, has the benefit of killing anything on the field but land pretty much, which means no matter how big your walker is it dies, same reason oblivion ring is considered good.
the ability for pulse to kill more then one permanent is a bonus, not nearly its reason for being really good. its being a 3 mana sorcery that can kill almost anything you can put on the board other then land.
Opponent: !@#$
It's just that, in a casual setting, it's very hard to say any card is strictly better than another. I'd be hard pressed to convince you to run Wild Mongrel rather than Grizzly Bears in a casual Muraganda Petroglyphs deck.
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If he kills him through combat, well I didn't have enough board position to protect him anyway. If he kills him with another burn spell, sweet. I just played a two mana lightning rod that cost him two cards.
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BUWGR Highlander GRWUB
UBSquee's Shapeshifting PetBU
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UMerfolkU
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Ok, thats Garruk, but the other planeswalkers aren't Garruk. It looks like if your going up against a red deck you probably will not use their MINUS ability until its safe to do so. I have never played with Lightning Bolt before, so I don't know how powerful it is. But I can say, by just looking at it, 1 mana, instant speed, knock off 3 loyalty counters: doesn't promote playing planewalkers.
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I get Ball Lightning, and Lightning Bolt.....and who knows what else is gona be in there. I just may have to get back into competitive Magic now
I've actually never played against too many Planeswalkers, but I know how much of a pain they are with my limited experience. 1 mana at their end step to drop off 3 counters and slow them down?? I'll take that.
On the note of the artwork for the 4 cards: I love them. Great job by the artists
^^Thanks dantcg!
Thats weird... Mike Flores spoiled it in his article: New Job Opportunities.
It's quite fine at common, it's just that people are remembering it's power compared to other cards when it was printed and not compared to cards now. People's excitement have them giving it more credit than it deserves.
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Exactly.
"Oh no, he killed my T1 Hippie, now I am screwed"
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I realize, but I'm having trouble coming up with a 3 toughness creature that mattered back then.
Also, Shock dealt with T1 Negator fine too.
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Get a grip! Magic loves to keep red down because they view burn as too 'easy' of a way to win. If a guy is running 4 Bolts, 4 Chain Lightnings, 4 Incinerates, and 4 Flame Javelins (obviously not type 2) ..then yeah..you got something to worry about. But when is the last time a straight red burn deck (without Goblins) has won any major tournaments?? Granted, a deck like above would not be fun to play against, but neither is one running 12 or more counterspells. You play against your friends (as in group games) for fun, but when you play in tournaments winning is the ONLY thing that matters...not how much fun you had. I would love to see a straight burn deck without goblins be a top contender. Then hopefully you would never time out on a match...since your turn lasts all of 3 seconds (untap, draw, tap mana, burn, done).
this is true, so many ppl play with full burn spells all they do is zap to the dome ALL DAY. its a very boring and unoriginal concept. But it does win consistantly so will probably see the RDW with ball lightning and crew there a lot now
Burn isn't (and really, never was), the main win condition in a deck. What "burn" decks do is play out cheap, efficient creatures, turn them sideways until the opponent is low enough life, then start throwing spells at their head. Lightning Bolt in Type 2 means that strategy will be a bit easier to pull off, that's all.
Since just about every deck with red in it did that anyways...