So I just started running a Stoneforge package in my Doran deck, and I need to decide on which of the 4 Swords of ____ and ____ to run. I only want to run one. Here's my analysis of the 4 so far:
Sword of Body and Mind: Pretty relevant protections, due to the popularity of blue and green (even though blue runs fewer creatures, so the protection may not be the greatest here). Wolf is good, but not great. Mill is irrelevant or can be bad against a graveyard shenanigans opponent. I think it's good, but not the best option.
[CARD]
Sword of Fire and Ice[/CARD]: Least relevant protections. Red is unpopular and weak, while blue is popular but doesn't target that much (bounce I guess, but not much else). However, it's got a very strong effect in its draw. The 2 damage is not very good though. I don't think I'll use it, though it is good.
Sword of Light and Shadow: Extremely relevant protections in that it shields the wearer from the majority of targeted removal in the game. Lifegain is pretty much irrelevant. I like the return a creature to hand. I already have a ton of graveyard shenanigans, but I think this can't hurt. It's between this sword and the next right now.
Sword of Feast and Famine: Very relevant protections in that it swings through lots of green dudes and is protected from black dudes and black targeted removal. Discard can be strong or weak depending on how much of a draw engine the opponent uses. Untapping lands CAN be insane, but when you have nothing in hand, it doesn't do anything.
I'm currently leaning towards the Sword of Light and Shadow simply because of its protections and it has one very useful effect. What do you guys think?
Sword of Fire and Ice is at least twice as good as any of the others. The triggers on it are just that much better. If you're only going to play one, this is definitely the one.
Light and Shadow is also pretty good in creature-heavy decks, and may well be worth playing as well.
The newer swords are both kind of crappy in comparison.
LS= Light & Shadow, FF= Feast and Famine, FI= Fire and Ice
If you HAVE to run only one, I would run LS. White and Black are really relevant colors in EDH, and the recurssion is good. Only downside I think is that you would probably be staring down much more global removal than spot in EDH from WB, but the recurssion probably picks that up too.
If you could possibly be running 2, I would be running FF along with any of the darksteel ones. FI and FF have the most relevant effects. Dealing 2 damage to a creature might not seem like much, but being able to get rid of something like a Fauna Shaman or Gaddock Teeg is highly relevant. And you could cover yourself from any color except white. FF gives you options. If you pair it up with LS, you could most likely play the creature you recurred, if you pair it up with FI, you could play the card you just drew. Assuming you have both swords of course.
That's just my insight atleast...
Edited: thought the said creature was stonehewer giant, my bad
I'd run FF. You have to punch throw their defenses anyway, so once you do that, having your lands untapped leaves them guessing what you'll do during their turn.
I like forcing a discard, but it may depend on if you/they run GY strategies.
I would vote for Fire and Ice... Protection from colors shouldn't really be a factor because you would play different colored decks constantly, so short of playing all of them color protection shouldn't really influence your decision....
If we look a abilities alone it is a close call between FaI and FaF any maybe LnS... Depends on the focus of the deck, if it is agro FaI is nice for the hand refill and the potential to kill an annoying creature or just more damage in... If your deck is mana intensive maybe FaF just because you can play more stuff (not bigger) and distrupt you opponent at the same time... LnS is not bad if you have creatures you want to recur or go constantly...
BnM gets the worse vote just because Mill 10 get a wolf is a bit underwhelming in Commander
I would definitely play Fire/Ice, and try to make space for Feast/Famine. That offers you the 2 best sets of effects (imo) as well as covering 4/5 colors for protection.
Easy, FI. You'd actualy be surprised how often the 2 damage is relevant, and even if it isn't it's still an extra 2 damage. The card draw is also best over any of the other swords.
I agree with Fire and Ice as well. More often than not the fact that the 2 damage you deal is from a colorless source has won me many a games. And really, when a card says "draw a card", that should usually sound some alarm bells in your head.
So I just decide on which of the 4 Swords of ____ and ____ to run. I only want to run one:
Sword of Light and Shadow: Extremely relevant protections in that it shields the wearer from the majority of targeted removal in the game. Lifegain is pretty much irrelevant. I like the return a creature to hand. I already have a ton of graveyard shenanigans, but I think this can't hurt. It's between this sword and the next right now.
get's around putrefy, mortify, condemn, swords to plowshares, go for the throat, eyeblight's ending, terminate, vindicate.......HUMONGOUS list of all comletely relevant, awesome cards that are staple in every deck of their colors.
and thats the reason why I run it as my only sword too.
....aslo, cmon over to the 1v1 forums and talk about doran strategies with me in my prison doran thread!
get's around putrefy, mortify, condemn, swords to plowshares, go for the throat, eyeblight's ending, terminate, vindicate.......HUMONGOUS list of all comletely relevant, awesome cards that are staple in every deck of their colors.
and thats the reason why I run it as my only sword too.
....aslo, cmon over to the 1v1 forums and talk about doran strategies with me in my prison doran thread!
EDIT: yea, jitte is really awesome too!
I already run Jitte, and right now I'm running FI and LS. Cool! I'll do that.
Sword of Body and Mind: Pretty relevant protections, due to the popularity of blue and green (even though blue runs fewer creatures, so the protection may not be the greatest here). Wolf is good, but not great. Mill is irrelevant or can be bad against a graveyard shenanigans opponent. I think it's good, but not the best option.
[CARD]
Sword of Fire and Ice[/CARD]: Least relevant protections. Red is unpopular and weak, while blue is popular but doesn't target that much (bounce I guess, but not much else). However, it's got a very strong effect in its draw. The 2 damage is not very good though. I don't think I'll use it, though it is good.
Sword of Light and Shadow: Extremely relevant protections in that it shields the wearer from the majority of targeted removal in the game. Lifegain is pretty much irrelevant. I like the return a creature to hand. I already have a ton of graveyard shenanigans, but I think this can't hurt. It's between this sword and the next right now.
Sword of Feast and Famine: Very relevant protections in that it swings through lots of green dudes and is protected from black dudes and black targeted removal. Discard can be strong or weak depending on how much of a draw engine the opponent uses. Untapping lands CAN be insane, but when you have nothing in hand, it doesn't do anything.
I'm currently leaning towards the Sword of Light and Shadow simply because of its protections and it has one very useful effect. What do you guys think?
Lands WUBG
EDH:
Doran WBG
Light and Shadow is also pretty good in creature-heavy decks, and may well be worth playing as well.
The newer swords are both kind of crappy in comparison.
If you HAVE to run only one, I would run LS. White and Black are really relevant colors in EDH, and the recurssion is good. Only downside I think is that you would probably be staring down much more global removal than spot in EDH from WB, but the recurssion probably picks that up too.
If you could possibly be running 2, I would be running FF along with any of the darksteel ones. FI and FF have the most relevant effects. Dealing 2 damage to a creature might not seem like much, but being able to get rid of something like a Fauna Shaman or Gaddock Teeg is highly relevant. And you could cover yourself from any color except white. FF gives you options. If you pair it up with LS, you could most likely play the creature you recurred, if you pair it up with FI, you could play the card you just drew. Assuming you have both swords of course.
That's just my insight atleast...
Edited: thought the said creature was stonehewer giant, my bad
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[EDH Decks]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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WUR ~Numot, the Devestator; Mid-Range Stax~ RUW
[EDH in Progress]
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I like forcing a discard, but it may depend on if you/they run GY strategies.
(U/B)(U/B)(U/B) JUMP IN THE LINE, ROCK YOUR BODY IN TIME
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Lands WUBG
EDH:
Doran WBG
If we look a abilities alone it is a close call between FaI and FaF any maybe LnS... Depends on the focus of the deck, if it is agro FaI is nice for the hand refill and the potential to kill an annoying creature or just more damage in... If your deck is mana intensive maybe FaF just because you can play more stuff (not bigger) and distrupt you opponent at the same time... LnS is not bad if you have creatures you want to recur or go constantly...
BnM gets the worse vote just because Mill 10 get a wolf is a bit underwhelming in Commander
T2
Commander
WGCaptain SisayWG
Lover of EDH, hater of whiny EDH players.
-Team R&D-
-noitcelfeR maeT
1 Fire Ice
2 Feast Famine
3 Light Shadow
4 Body Mind
get's around putrefy, mortify, condemn, swords to plowshares, go for the throat, eyeblight's ending, terminate, vindicate.......HUMONGOUS list of all comletely relevant, awesome cards that are staple in every deck of their colors.
and thats the reason why I run it as my only sword too.
....aslo, cmon over to the 1v1 forums and talk about doran strategies with me in my prison doran thread!
EDIT: yea, jitte is really awesome too!
When neither modern science nor philosophy can explain what life is."
Does the Reaper dream of darkness Darker than BLACK?
Jitte
F&I
F&F
L&S
and just skip B&M, Id run Loxodon Warhammer before B&M I think, heh.
I already run Jitte, and right now I'm running FI and LS. Cool! I'll do that.
Lands WUBG
EDH:
Doran WBG
EDH: Xenagos, God of Revels.