I understand that this really depends on the playgroup. However, what I would like to know is, the general point of view on this card. Mass land destruction is something that is generally, but not always frowned upon, for example.
I only recently found out about Glacial Chasm, and I was amazed at first that something so broken could be so budget. And since there are so many budget options to tutor non-basics, it was easy to build a deck that uses it as a center piece. But I can't help but wonder if it's just too unfair in casual edh.
I am not sure if there is a misunderstanding here, or maybe our definitions are different, but I don't think Chasm really even approaches "brokenness". Sure, there are some things you can do to mitigate the downsides, but those downsides can be pretty brutal. You are already paying 2, 4, 6, 8 life to keep it around and you can't attack while you have it. So, you either need a way to loop it or need to be winning outside of combat.
I am not sure if there is a misunderstanding here, or maybe our definitions are different, but I don't think Chasm really even approaches "brokenness". Sure, there are some things you can do to mitigate the downsides, but those downsides can be pretty brutal. You are already paying 2, 4, 6, 8 life to keep it around and you can't attack while you have it. So, you either need a way to loop it or need to be winning outside of combat.
So, yeah, it can be good, but I would never be mad to be sitting across from it.
i get that there are ways to get around and even counter it, but most decks i run into don't run them.
it takes quite a few rounds before the upkeep becomes brutal, and i don't play it until i think my opponents are about to go off. This card is very niche, but op when that niche is filled. decks that focus on non-combat damage/life loss + life gain, and access to green for the tutors, is really all you need for the niche, and then theres decks that play lands from the grave.
It kind of fits the same role as Ensnaring Bridge does in modern, except in commander context it's much more likely to be removed. While it doesn't get around life loss like MN says, it is pretty sick to Crop Rotation in response to a big Earthquake or something; or even play one of your own. The cost of running Chasm is that it's not always good and drawing it stinks. Does nothing against wiener Thassa's Oracle players, which makes me sad.
I'd only be grumpy about a chasm if my opponent had specifically asked me to not play any land destruction cards, and then has Chasm, Cradle, Cofferborg etc. That's a thing that happens on MTGO a fair amount of the time because people don't know courtesy. If I can potentially have packed an out to it, why would I get salty about it?
Also, watch out for Questing Beast. Somewhere hidden in the wall of text is a counter to Chasm.
No one here can police you or your group; you have to do it yourselves. If you do, things will remain harmonious and your group will establish a nice meta that everyone can agree on. If you repeatedly win with this combo you will either create resentment or create an arms race within your group (and drive some players away entirely). If you are posting this thread, it's probably a warning sign. If you continue to have concerns, just ASK THE GROUP and see what THEY say.
Always depends on what the mindset of the group is.
When the goal is to build competitive decks, all chains are off and people build the most powerful deck they can , which produces a meta-game in which people have to find ways to get an edge against the opponents.
If you end up with highly competitive cEDH decks, you are well aware that games can end in just a couple of turns and everyone packs some kind of combo and a handful of ways to defend themselves.
Assembling Glacial Chasm in any combo is just strictly worse than finding a combo that actually wins the game.
Any combo that just sets up a pillow fort can easily be destroyed if its not a total hard lock.
If the table is neither fast enough or has no way to destroy that combo, well, then they simply build a deck with sever weaknesses.
Its like a deck full of ability creatures and somebody puts down a Cursed Totem, this kind of hard-shutdown will always be a major problem for somebody on the table, and not bother others.
If such a hard-shutdown card can beat 3 of your opponents, its basically the best card you could ever have.
The big deal of any "stax" or pillow fort style of deck is to use cards that are as effective as possible to a given metagame.
If you expect a lot of creatures that deal damage and thats the metagame , yea Glacial Chasm is an amazing card, or you face 3 combo decks that deal no damage at all and you have a card that does absolutely nothing for you.
----
That said, its often reasonable that people pack at least 2 decks that are very different, so a metagame of 4 people playing each other does not become stale.
If you have a bunch of casual decks that are not competitive at all, you might remove a lot of cards that are otherwise reasonable.
Winning with a competitive combo is pretty bad in casual as the opponents need to be aware of what they are up to and if they dont pack good answers or a very pro-active game plan themselves, its like playing a Vintage deck against a Draft deck, thats no fun for anybody.
If you continue to have concerns, just ASK THE GROUP and see what THEY say.
Unfortunately, i think my group is too nice to say no. Some people genuinely have no problem with it, and are usually the first to answer as such. It's a bit pet deck of mine lately, so maybe the problem is im just playing it too often.
my playgroup is a really mixed bag. no turn 3 wins, but there's some pretty cancerous decks.
There is no such thing as an inherently "scummy" card. If a card is legal in the format you're playing and you and your opponents have not agreed not to play it, it's fine to run.
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I only recently found out about Glacial Chasm, and I was amazed at first that something so broken could be so budget. And since there are so many budget options to tutor non-basics, it was easy to build a deck that uses it as a center piece. But I can't help but wonder if it's just too unfair in casual edh.
It also doesn't stop loss of life so you can just get got with things like Torment of Hailfire or Exsanguinate.
So, yeah, it can be good, but I would never be mad to be sitting across from it.
i get that there are ways to get around and even counter it, but most decks i run into don't run them.
it takes quite a few rounds before the upkeep becomes brutal, and i don't play it until i think my opponents are about to go off. This card is very niche, but op when that niche is filled. decks that focus on non-combat damage/life loss + life gain, and access to green for the tutors, is really all you need for the niche, and then theres decks that play lands from the grave.
I'd only be grumpy about a chasm if my opponent had specifically asked me to not play any land destruction cards, and then has Chasm, Cradle, Cofferborg etc. That's a thing that happens on MTGO a fair amount of the time because people don't know courtesy. If I can potentially have packed an out to it, why would I get salty about it?
Also, watch out for Questing Beast. Somewhere hidden in the wall of text is a counter to Chasm.
Well, yes. Yes it is. Why didn't you mention this at the beginning? (So, I voted only if..)
Running Strip Mine or Crucible of Worlds on their own is pretty reasonable unless you pair them together.
No one here can police you or your group; you have to do it yourselves. If you do, things will remain harmonious and your group will establish a nice meta that everyone can agree on. If you repeatedly win with this combo you will either create resentment or create an arms race within your group (and drive some players away entirely). If you are posting this thread, it's probably a warning sign. If you continue to have concerns, just ASK THE GROUP and see what THEY say.
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When the goal is to build competitive decks, all chains are off and people build the most powerful deck they can , which produces a meta-game in which people have to find ways to get an edge against the opponents.
If you end up with highly competitive cEDH decks, you are well aware that games can end in just a couple of turns and everyone packs some kind of combo and a handful of ways to defend themselves.
Assembling Glacial Chasm in any combo is just strictly worse than finding a combo that actually wins the game.
Any combo that just sets up a pillow fort can easily be destroyed if its not a total hard lock.
If the table is neither fast enough or has no way to destroy that combo, well, then they simply build a deck with sever weaknesses.
Its like a deck full of ability creatures and somebody puts down a Cursed Totem, this kind of hard-shutdown will always be a major problem for somebody on the table, and not bother others.
If such a hard-shutdown card can beat 3 of your opponents, its basically the best card you could ever have.
The big deal of any "stax" or pillow fort style of deck is to use cards that are as effective as possible to a given metagame.
If you expect a lot of creatures that deal damage and thats the metagame , yea Glacial Chasm is an amazing card, or you face 3 combo decks that deal no damage at all and you have a card that does absolutely nothing for you.
----
That said, its often reasonable that people pack at least 2 decks that are very different, so a metagame of 4 people playing each other does not become stale.
If you have a bunch of casual decks that are not competitive at all, you might remove a lot of cards that are otherwise reasonable.
Winning with a competitive combo is pretty bad in casual as the opponents need to be aware of what they are up to and if they dont pack good answers or a very pro-active game plan themselves, its like playing a Vintage deck against a Draft deck, thats no fun for anybody.
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Unfortunately, i think my group is too nice to say no. Some people genuinely have no problem with it, and are usually the first to answer as such. It's a bit pet deck of mine lately, so maybe the problem is im just playing it too often.
my playgroup is a really mixed bag. no turn 3 wins, but there's some pretty cancerous decks.
Acidic Slime, Cleansing Wildfire, Assassin's Trophy, Ghost Quarter, Avalanche Riders, Decimate, Dust Bowl, etc. are all reasonable cards that can answer things like Glacial Chasm, and honestly, I don't see how anyone could really oppose these if they aren't being used abusively. Even Wave of Vitriol, while technically a mass removal spell, really only punishes greedy manabases.
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