It was probably a reserved list buyout. Simple supply and demand economics really, taking advantage of the fact that the reserved list cards like Lifeline are in a perpetual state of limited supply. People take to eBay to buy out every copy they can find under a certain price, creating high (artificial) demand on a card that they know won't be reprinted, and thus will always maintain a certain degree of value (as long as the game is being played). So someone (or several someones) with enough money to invest in something like this buys out the cards in bulk, people notice that there are less and less of the card available, and thus the price comes out. There's a good chance that the price will go down again over the next few weeks as people realise that the demand for the card is inflated, but if past reserved list buyouts are any indication the price will still be at least a few dollars higher than what it was before the buyout started.
Considering it's only in 2% of Teysa decks on EDHREC I don't think Teysa loves it. It works for your opponents, doesn't protect against board wipes, costs a lot and provides no immediate value. It's a pretty awful card imo, no real reason it's so expensive other than "its old and on the reserve list"
Considering it's only in 2% of Teysa decks on EDHREC I don't think Teysa loves it. It works for your opponents, doesn't protect against board wipes, costs a lot and provides no immediate value. It's a pretty awful card imo, no real reason it's so expensive other than "its old and on the reserve list"
also has no effect if you have 2 or more creatures on the field after one dies.
Considering it's only in 2% of Teysa decks on EDHREC I don't think Teysa loves it. It works for your opponents, doesn't protect against board wipes, costs a lot and provides no immediate value. It's a pretty awful card imo, no real reason it's so expensive other than "its old and on the reserve list"
also has no effect if you have 2 or more creatures on the field after one dies.
It does still work. The oracle text is
Whenever a creature dies, if another creature is on the battlefield, return the first card to the battlefield under its owner's control at the beginning of the next end step.
Considering it's only in 2% of Teysa decks on EDHREC I don't think Teysa loves it. It works for your opponents, doesn't protect against board wipes, costs a lot and provides no immediate value. It's a pretty awful card imo, no real reason it's so expensive other than "its old and on the reserve list"
also has no effect if you have 2 or more creatures on the field after one dies.
It does still work. The oracle text is
Whenever a creature dies, if another creature is on the battlefield, return the first card to the battlefield under its owner's control at the beginning of the next end step.
I misread the ruling
If more than one creature is on the battlefield and all the creatures on the battlefield go to the graveyard at once, then none of them are returned at end of turn. This is because Lifeline’s ability has an intervening-if clause, which means that there must be at least one creature on the battlefield at the time the ability resolves.
i mess up reading it thinking that if i have more than one creature it did nothing.
hmm, lifeline is actually a good card.
EDIT: nevermind, reading the erratas of it, pretty bad card.
Depends on the deck...Teysa 1.0 would love it, for instance.
Elenda, the Dusk Rose seems like a natural home for it. Orzhov has plenty of exile removal to get rid of problem creatures, less-problematic creatures get to die over and over again to pump Elenda, and if someone boardwipes, you can stack the triggers so Elenda gives you tokens before Lifeline checks whether there are any creatures in play.
hmm, lifeline is actually a good card.
EDIT: nevermind, reading the erratas of it, pretty bad card.
Depends on the deck...Teysa 1.0 would love it, for instance.
Elenda, the Dusk Rose seems like a natural home for it. Orzhov has plenty of exile removal to get rid of problem creatures, less-problematic creatures get to die over and over again to pump Elenda, and if someone boardwipes, you can stack the triggers so Elenda gives you tokens before Lifeline checks whether there are any creatures in play.
Sounds about right to me. I actually remember when it came out, my first thought about Lifeline was "Sweet! Goes infinite with Goblin Bombardment! never mind..." My opinion of it hasn't really changed. It's not Wood Elemental bad, but don't expect any sort of miracles out of it.
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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!
Totally niche usage here, but Horde of Notions would love this for the evoke mechanic. Evoke something, sac it, then get the second etb effect at end of turn. The elemental champions or any etb-effect-elementals cheating into play with Incandescent Soulstoke would also love this. For that matter, so would decks that use Sneak Attack-esque cards. Mulldrifter, Reveillark, or Shriekmaw are all relevant examples.
I’m not saying it’s “Oh my gosh!” sexy or anything, but if I had one I would slot as one of the 99 to squeeze a little bit more juice from evokers. But not for $25. Nope...
Just another reason to want the reserve list abolished. I just deeply want to see speculators lose all their value from things like this that only have value because they'll never be reprinted. The sudden possibility of this showing up in a precon or even a set would crater its price even if it didn't actually ever end up getting reprinted (see: any number of mediocre rares with one printing that are not on the reserved list). Super old cards would retain some value just because they are the original printing, and so would things that Wizards would be loathe to ever reprint even if they could, but stuff like this shouldn't be $25. Its market manipulation, pure and simple, and its abetted by a anachronistic policy. People buy new sets knowing that every card contained therein can be reprinted, there is no longer the need to ensure that cards will hold value to get people to buy product, and there is no longer any expectation on the part of the player that cards will hold value forever by virtue of never being reprinted.
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The Meaning of Life: "M-hmm. Well, it's nothing very special. Uh, try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations"
Onering's 4 simple steps that let you solve any problem with Magic's gameplay
Whether its blue players countering your spells, red players burning you out, or combo, if you have a problem with an aspect of Magic's gameplay, you can fix it!
Step 1: Identify the problem. What aspect of Magic don't you like? Step 2: Find out how others deal with the problem. How do players deal with this aspect of the game when they run into it? Step 3: Do what those players do. Step 4: No more problem. Bonus: You are now better at Magic. Enjoy those extra wins!
I'm glad I got mine awhile back for my Gonti, Lord of Luxury deck. Card causes a lot of headaches at the table with any sac outlets (especially with cards like Rune-scarred Demon, Massacre Wurm and Wurmcoil Engine). I am getting really tired of seeing random old fun cards getting crazy-expensive though.
Just another reason to want the reserve list abolished. I just deeply want to see speculators lose all their value from things like this that only have value because they'll never be reprinted. The sudden possibility of this showing up in a precon or even a set would crater its price even if it didn't actually ever end up getting reprinted (see: any number of mediocre rares with one printing that are not on the reserved list). Super old cards would retain some value just because they are the original printing, and so would things that Wizards would be loathe to ever reprint even if they could, but stuff like this shouldn't be $25. Its market manipulation, pure and simple, and its abetted by a anachronistic policy. People buy new sets knowing that every card contained therein can be reprinted, there is no longer the need to ensure that cards will hold value to get people to buy product, and there is no longer any expectation on the part of the player that cards will hold value forever by virtue of never being reprinted.
Would you be ok if they loose up a bit and let non-elites cards (such as Lifeline) be reprinted, but keep powerful ones like Mishra's Workshop and dual lands on reserved?
I'd think if the reserve list is full of Stome Crow level cards, people wouldn't give a damn if it stays.
Just another reason to want the reserve list abolished. I just deeply want to see speculators lose all their value from things like this that only have value because they'll never be reprinted. The sudden possibility of this showing up in a precon or even a set would crater its price even if it didn't actually ever end up getting reprinted (see: any number of mediocre rares with one printing that are not on the reserved list). Super old cards would retain some value just because they are the original printing, and so would things that Wizards would be loathe to ever reprint even if they could, but stuff like this shouldn't be $25. Its market manipulation, pure and simple, and its abetted by a anachronistic policy. People buy new sets knowing that every card contained therein can be reprinted, there is no longer the need to ensure that cards will hold value to get people to buy product, and there is no longer any expectation on the part of the player that cards will hold value forever by virtue of never being reprinted.
Would you be ok if they loose up a bit and let non-elites cards (such as Lifeline) be reprinted, but keep powerful ones like Mishra's Workshop and dual lands on reserved?
I'd think if the reserve list is full of Stome Crow level cards, people wouldn't give a damn if it stays.
Yes. Some cards were never going to be reprinted because of how powerful they were, and they were always going to hold some value for the same reason. Their prices are ridiculous, but they are also fairly few in number. Even some that aren't so powerful, but still aren't ever likely to be printed, like ante cards, should stay. I could even accept some iconic old cards that have plenty of alternatives, like Fork. But most cards on there should be unrestricted.
Private Mod Note
():
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The Meaning of Life: "M-hmm. Well, it's nothing very special. Uh, try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations"
Onering's 4 simple steps that let you solve any problem with Magic's gameplay
Whether its blue players countering your spells, red players burning you out, or combo, if you have a problem with an aspect of Magic's gameplay, you can fix it!
Step 1: Identify the problem. What aspect of Magic don't you like? Step 2: Find out how others deal with the problem. How do players deal with this aspect of the game when they run into it? Step 3: Do what those players do. Step 4: No more problem. Bonus: You are now better at Magic. Enjoy those extra wins!
Yes. Some cards were never going to be reprinted because of how powerful they were, and they were always going to hold some value for the same reason. Their prices are ridiculous, but they are also fairly few in number. Even some that aren't so powerful, but still aren't ever likely to be printed, like ante cards, should stay. I could even accept some iconic old cards that have plenty of alternatives, like Fork. But most cards on there should be unrestricted.
Yeah, many of those expansions were printed before MtG was international like today, few in number, lack of power balance, and some no longer fit the spirit of the game (like ante). It is, however, difficult to determine power level of some cards till they became abused. Lands will always be used, and many fell off the power chart as new sets came out (like, comparing Morphling and Tarmogoyf). Curious how WotC doesn't hesitate to make creatures surpass their ancestors while they're always reluctant to make more powerful spells, perhaps because they die to Doom Blade?
Just another reason to want the reserve list abolished. I just deeply want to see speculators lose all their value from things like this that only have value because they'll never be reprinted. The sudden possibility of this showing up in a precon or even a set would crater its price even if it didn't actually ever end up getting reprinted (see: any number of mediocre rares with one printing that are not on the reserved list). Super old cards would retain some value just because they are the original printing, and so would things that Wizards would be loathe to ever reprint even if they could, but stuff like this shouldn't be $25. Its market manipulation, pure and simple, and its abetted by a anachronistic policy. People buy new sets knowing that every card contained therein can be reprinted, there is no longer the need to ensure that cards will hold value to get people to buy product, and there is no longer any expectation on the part of the player that cards will hold value forever by virtue of never being reprinted.
Would you be ok if they loose up a bit and let non-elites cards (such as Lifeline) be reprinted, but keep powerful ones like Mishra's Workshop and dual lands on reserved?
I'd think if the reserve list is full of Stome Crow level cards, people wouldn't give a damn if it stays.
And that's the funny thing: Thunder Spirit is a better case against the Reserved List than all the busted cards put together, just because limited. Many a limited environment could use an aggressively costed small white flyer with first strike. But you know, a promise is a promise. And there are plenty of powerful cards from that era not on the Reserved List, like Force of Will and Channel.
I think people conflate power with rarity too much in this game. Wizards' habit of correlating rarity with power in recent years has only made this worse.
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():
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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!
lifeline
It was like $5 before
Can someone explain to me why it shot up to $25 on April 30th this year?
This has happened with edh cards before.
EDIT: nevermind, reading the erratas of it, pretty bad card.
UB Vela the Night-Clad BUDecklist
WBG Ghave, Guru of Spores GBW
WUBRGThe Ur-DragonWUBRGDecklist
Depends on the deck...Teysa 1.0 would love it, for instance.
EDH decks: 1. RGWMayael's Big BeatsRETIRED!
2. BUWMerieke Ri Berit and the 40 Thieves
3. URNiv's Wheeling and Dealing!
4. BURThe Walking Dead
5. GWSisay's Legends of Tomorrow
6. RWBRise of Markov
7. GElvez and stuffz(W)
8. RCrush your enemies(W)
9. BSign right here...(W)
also has no effect if you have 2 or more creatures on the field after one dies.
UB Vela the Night-Clad BUDecklist
WBG Ghave, Guru of Spores GBW
WUBRGThe Ur-DragonWUBRGDecklist
It does still work. The oracle text is
Whenever a creature dies, if another creature is on the battlefield, return the first card to the battlefield under its owner's control at the beginning of the next end step.
I misread the ruling
i mess up reading it thinking that if i have more than one creature it did nothing.
UB Vela the Night-Clad BUDecklist
WBG Ghave, Guru of Spores GBW
WUBRGThe Ur-DragonWUBRGDecklist
I actually needed the card for a deck.
8.RG Green Devotion Ramp/Combo 9.UR Draw Triggers 10.WUR Group stalling 11.WUR Voltron Spellslinger 12.WB Sacrificial Shenanigans
13.BR Creatureless Panharmonicon 14.BR Pingers and Eldrazi 15.URG Untapped Cascading
16.Reyhan, last of the Abzan's WUBG +1/+1 Counter Craziness 17.WUBRG Dragons aka Why did I make this?
Building: The Gitrog Monster lands, Glissa the Traitor stax, Muldrotha, the Gravetide Planeswalker Combo, Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix + Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa Clues, and Tribal Scarecrow Planeswalkers
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
Sounds about right to me. I actually remember when it came out, my first thought about Lifeline was "
Sweet! Goes infinite with Goblin Bombardment!never mind..." My opinion of it hasn't really changed. It's not Wood Elemental bad, but don't expect any sort of miracles out of it.On phasing:
I’m not saying it’s “Oh my gosh!” sexy or anything, but if I had one I would slot as one of the 99 to squeeze a little bit more juice from evokers. But not for $25. Nope...
Onering's 4 simple steps that let you solve any problem with Magic's gameplay
Step 1: Identify the problem. What aspect of Magic don't you like? Step 2: Find out how others deal with the problem. How do players deal with this aspect of the game when they run into it? Step 3: Do what those players do. Step 4: No more problem. Bonus: You are now better at Magic. Enjoy those extra wins!
Would you be ok if they loose up a bit and let non-elites cards (such as Lifeline) be reprinted, but keep powerful ones like Mishra's Workshop and dual lands on reserved?
I'd think if the reserve list is full of Stome Crow level cards, people wouldn't give a damn if it stays.
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
Yes. Some cards were never going to be reprinted because of how powerful they were, and they were always going to hold some value for the same reason. Their prices are ridiculous, but they are also fairly few in number. Even some that aren't so powerful, but still aren't ever likely to be printed, like ante cards, should stay. I could even accept some iconic old cards that have plenty of alternatives, like Fork. But most cards on there should be unrestricted.
Onering's 4 simple steps that let you solve any problem with Magic's gameplay
Step 1: Identify the problem. What aspect of Magic don't you like? Step 2: Find out how others deal with the problem. How do players deal with this aspect of the game when they run into it? Step 3: Do what those players do. Step 4: No more problem. Bonus: You are now better at Magic. Enjoy those extra wins!
This is incorrect.
If there are no creatures on the battlefield at the time the ability would trigger, it does not trigger.
A Dying Wish
To Rise Again
Chainer, Dementia Master
Muldrotha, the Gravetide
Atraxa, Praetors' Voice
Yeah, many of those expansions were printed before MtG was international like today, few in number, lack of power balance, and some no longer fit the spirit of the game (like ante). It is, however, difficult to determine power level of some cards till they became abused. Lands will always be used, and many fell off the power chart as new sets came out (like, comparing Morphling and Tarmogoyf). Curious how WotC doesn't hesitate to make creatures surpass their ancestors while they're always reluctant to make more powerful spells, perhaps because they die to Doom Blade?
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
And that's the funny thing: Thunder Spirit is a better case against the Reserved List than all the busted cards put together, just because limited. Many a limited environment could use an aggressively costed small white flyer with first strike. But you know, a promise is a promise. And there are plenty of powerful cards from that era not on the Reserved List, like Force of Will and Channel.
I think people conflate power with rarity too much in this game. Wizards' habit of correlating rarity with power in recent years has only made this worse.
On phasing: