honestly i think they should have made just the draw spell the 1 cmc cipher, and made this an overload and instant speed (1 normal, 3 overload), that way it would actually be ok against 3-4 color decks.
Most of these applications (the best way to use the card), aren't possible on a sorcery. And the ones that would be good on a sorcery (to permanently change a permanent) are until the end of turn?
UGH.
Way to completely eff up this card. Its implementation is horrible. And that's coming from someone who normally doesn't talk bad about design choices.
The only thing bad about this, is that its a sorcery. WotC went wayyy too restrictive on Ciphers, and all the other cards that do this have been instants, with all kinds of recurring effects like Retrace, Buyback and Flashback. It almost seems like it was some kind of 'obligatory' card for the mechanic.
I agree. I don't think the effect itself is bad, it has plenty of interesting, niche uses. The biggest problem with this card is that putting it on a Cipher spell just highlights all the ways that it *doesn't* work with Cipher.
I mean I guess if you want a repeatable effect that does actual nothing, then this is the card for you. This is probably the closest you can get in Standard to casting a free, blank spell every turn.
In all honesty, one way to use it is to ignore the noncipher text: U, sorcery, cipher. Now think Izzet. Nivmagus elemental could get two free +1/+1 counters a turn. Guttersnipe, etc.
Or you could just strap it to Invisible Stalker and use it as mana fixing.
naturally blue gets the junk rares in the set
why couldnt dimir or orzhov get something is stupid powerful as legions initiative? all the blue cards like this are casual at best and it sickens me
wont be playing standard until this block rotates out unless theros is really good
Why are people saying this can be used for mana fixing? The spell affects the text of a permanent, not the type or name. The text of a card is anything in the textbox that isn't flavor-text or reminder-text.
so i used to play mindbend back in the day , but here is a question , if my opponents cracks a fetch can I cast this is reponse and nullify his land search ?
It's a sorcery, so no. This card is completely useless at sorcery speed, and the cipher is pointless.
Why are people saying this can be used for mana fixing? The spell affects the text of a permanent, not the type or name. The text of a card is anything in the textbox that isn't flavor-text or reminder-text.
10/4/2004 It can be used to change a land's type from one basic land type to another. For example, Forest can be changed to Island so it produces blue mana. It doesn't change the name of any permanent.
In all honesty, one way to use it is to ignore the noncipher text: U, sorcery, cipher. Now think Izzet. Nivmagus elemental could get two free +1/+1 counters a turn. Guttersnipe, etc.
Or you could just strap it to Invisible Stalker and use it as mana fixing.
thinking about it that way, I could see myself playing it in some kitchen table decks. to trigger all "whenever a spell is cast" effects with cipher sounds like it could be useful in a deck built around it. However, hands of binding or hidden strings would both be better for that purpose, and have more potential uses as well.
Why is everyone saying that you can use this to prevent counters and kill spells during your second main? Smart control players will just tap the mana they will need in response to you doing this and sit on it until eot... Now, if you could get them to do this during their first main, then yeah their mana goes away when combat starts. Having this effect during second main is useless.
I'm also one of those Johnnies who played 'Slight Knight' decks back in the day. Get a bunch of creatures with protection from any color, some Slight of Hand effects to tune them against whatever opponent you faced, and you could challenge just about any other deck. Fun times.
But if your slight effect isn't an instant, you can't use it to protect your creatures. If it is cast after combat, you can't use it offensively. If it only lasts until end of turn you can't use it to slowly tune your entire deck against whatever you're facing. I'm really at a loss for what this card is supposed to be for. Right now, it looks like the worst rare in the entire block.
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New Webcomic -- Genocide Man Life is funny. Death is funnier. Mass slaughter can be hilarious.
The first thing that came to mind was replicate + tratit doctoring. Otherwise this can color screw people in draft? I dislike this card and feel that WOTC failed to show us their creativity making dimir cards.
In all honesty, one way to use it is to ignore the noncipher text: U, sorcery, cipher. Now think Izzet. Nivmagus elemental could get two free +1/+1 counters a turn. Guttersnipe, etc.
Or you could just strap it to Invisible Stalker and use it as mana fixing.
Maybe this is why they printed it. Honestly even in a "color matters" block, this doesn't do anything at sorcery speed. This card makes zero sense.
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If MTG is a part of your life, the formats are like relationships:
Standard/Block = The on-again, off-again holiday fling
Modern/Vintage/Legacy = Stable, homely. A ***** after absence/misreading
Limited/Sealed = Heart breaking free spirit
Commander/Cube = Agreeable, needy and expensive
Pauper/Peasant = Sweet, kind, practical, but shy and boring
Why do they keep printing this type of card? We have seen this change a certain text card since the beginning of magic and it is never played anywhere.
Some of you may think that you have made great mistakes in your lives, and perhaps you have. But let me ask you this.... did you ever play strip poker with two fat chicks and win?
I'm also one of those Johnnies who played 'Slight Knight' decks back in the day. Get a bunch of creatures with protection from any color, some Slight of Hand effects to tune them against whatever opponent you faced, and you could challenge just about any other deck. Fun times.
But if your slight effect isn't an instant, you can't use it to protect your creatures. If it is cast after combat, you can't use it offensively. If it only lasts until end of turn you can't use it to slowly tune your entire deck against whatever you're facing. I'm really at a loss for what this card is supposed to be for. Right now, it looks like the worst rare in the entire block.
Some of you may think that you have made great mistakes in your lives, and perhaps you have. But let me ask you this.... did you ever play strip poker with two fat chicks and win?
Sad how the one thing that I can think of making this event remotely useful in Limited/Standard right now (outside of changing the "Forestwalk" to "LandWalk" and "Pro Green" to "Pro *Color*" in that one Dimir Simic Stolen card) was to counter the new Lasher, until I relized this spell was BLUE.
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I am the Outcast and the Loner of this world,
I don't need the strength of others to survive,
I only need to rely upon myself to stay alive...
The trust you have in others, is not a strength,
The trust you have is a liability and a weakness,
While others will fail you, you will never fail yourself...
While the Pack might be stronger than the Loner,
The Loner is still stronger then anyone in the Pack,
The only strength you can rely upon is your own...
this card is just disgusting as a rare. I know such effects have been done as rare in the past, but that doesn't mean they should've. I'd be fine with it at uncommon or at least instant speed, but sorcery is god-awful.
I'm SO SICK of the "too strong for Standard" argument. It's the new "Dies to removal". We can have a two mana 4/4 with a zillion abilities, but we can't just have Accumulated Knowledge. Makes sense.
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Sleight a Natural Order to turn a Man O' War into a Tradewind Rider
Turn that suicide black's Perish into a nasty board sweeper. Or make his Terror or Dark Banishing, fizzle.
Most of these applications (the best way to use the card), aren't possible on a sorcery. And the ones that would be good on a sorcery (to permanently change a permanent) are until the end of turn?
UGH.
Way to completely eff up this card. Its implementation is horrible. And that's coming from someone who normally doesn't talk bad about design choices.
I'd love input and advice!
I agree. I don't think the effect itself is bad, it has plenty of interesting, niche uses. The biggest problem with this card is that putting it on a Cipher spell just highlights all the ways that it *doesn't* work with Cipher.
I mean I guess if you want a repeatable effect that does actual nothing, then this is the card for you. This is probably the closest you can get in Standard to casting a free, blank spell every turn.
Trait Doctoring is Blue, and cannot target Skylasher.
I'm assuming this is some sort of plant for Theros, which will have a "colors matter!" theme. I don't get it otherwise.
Club Flamingo Wins: 1!
Nivmagus elemental could get two free +1/+1 counters a turn. Guttersnipe, etc.
Or you could just strap it to Invisible Stalker and use it as mana fixing.
why couldnt dimir or orzhov get something is stupid powerful as legions initiative? all the blue cards like this are casual at best and it sickens me
wont be playing standard until this block rotates out unless theros is really good
Or was this changed sometime recently?
It's a sorcery, so no. This card is completely useless at sorcery speed, and the cipher is pointless.
UUUAzami, Lady of ScrollsUUU
Mizzix of the Izmagnus
Vorel of the Hull Clade
Lazav, Dimir Mastermind
WUBSharuum the HegemonWUB
GWURafiq of the ManyGWU
Jhoira of the Ghitu
Mind Bend
Under Rulings (note the DATE):
10/4/2004 It can be used to change a land's type from one basic land type to another. For example, Forest can be changed to Island so it produces blue mana. It doesn't change the name of any permanent.
thinking about it that way, I could see myself playing it in some kitchen table decks. to trigger all "whenever a spell is cast" effects with cipher sounds like it could be useful in a deck built around it. However, hands of binding or hidden strings would both be better for that purpose, and have more potential uses as well.
WWUGeist of Saint TraftUWW
UUBBLazav, Dimir MastermindBBUU
BRMalfegorRB
RGThromok the InsatiableGR
GGWWTrostani, Selesnya's VoiceWWGG
WBTeysa, Orzhov ScionBW
BGGGlissa, the TraitorGGB
GGUUPrime Speaker ZeganaUUGG
URJhoira of the GhituRU
RRWWAurelia, the WarleaderWWRR
UBRJeleva, Nephalias ScourgeRBU
But if your slight effect isn't an instant, you can't use it to protect your creatures. If it is cast after combat, you can't use it offensively. If it only lasts until end of turn you can't use it to slowly tune your entire deck against whatever you're facing. I'm really at a loss for what this card is supposed to be for. Right now, it looks like the worst rare in the entire block.
Life is funny. Death is funnier. Mass slaughter can be hilarious.
Maybe this is why they printed it. Honestly even in a "color matters" block, this doesn't do anything at sorcery speed. This card makes zero sense.
Standard/Block = The on-again, off-again holiday fling
Modern/Vintage/Legacy = Stable, homely. A ***** after absence/misreading
Limited/Sealed = Heart breaking free spirit
Commander/Cube = Agreeable, needy and expensive
Pauper/Peasant = Sweet, kind, practical, but shy and boring
reusable force spike
counter target spell unless its controller pays 1
cipher.
Currently playing
WE DEMAND A SACRIFICE
Night Shift
Karrthus, Tyrant of Dragons
Some of you may think that you have made great mistakes in your lives, and perhaps you have. But let me ask you this.... did you ever play strip poker with two fat chicks and win?
Cockatrice name: Ninja Nate
You mean Sleight of Mind.
Currently playing
WE DEMAND A SACRIFICE
Night Shift
Karrthus, Tyrant of Dragons
Some of you may think that you have made great mistakes in your lives, and perhaps you have. But let me ask you this.... did you ever play strip poker with two fat chicks and win?
Cockatrice name: Ninja Nate
I don't need the strength of others to survive,
I only need to rely upon myself to stay alive...
The trust you have in others, is not a strength,
The trust you have is a liability and a weakness,
While others will fail you, you will never fail yourself...
While the Pack might be stronger than the Loner,
The Loner is still stronger then anyone in the Pack,
The only strength you can rely upon is your own...