I think I mentioned this particular duo in passing in a recent column but this is an excellent combo that I've been looking out for a lot in my recent drafts. I do like the blue-black archetype in this block as black has numerous aggressive early drops, which are quickly followed up by blue's powerful flyers. Combine this with some removal and a bounce spell perhaps and you've got a deck that can over-power an opponent before they even really get their game started. Despite this you do sometimes get to a point where your opponent has stalled things with their Kabuto Moths, Kitsune Blademasters and Mothrider Samurais and you can't really deal them any more damage. This is where the Mirror-Guard comes in. Its ability is very cheap, requiring only two mana and a single land returned to your hand, and what better creature to send in than the Akuba! It only takes a couple of attacks to bring an opponent down from ten life with the Akuba's damage combined with the life-draining ability, and you're even helped out by the Mirror-Guard as you can use its ability to generate an extra point of black mana. You simply attack with the Akuba, and before blockers are declared you tap a Swamp for mana and then return it using the Mirror-Guards ability to make the Akuba unblockable. After damage has been dealt you can use the black mana to steal a life point from your opponent before the end of combat and then when you're back in your main phase you can replay the same Swamp and drain them again. Both these cards are high picks in their own right but if you get them together in play unanswered then the game ends very, very quickly.
Important parts bolded.
That, or you use the land for damage before combat ends...
I don't see the black one being played much at all... although from what I've seen in the spoiler, MB-reanimator is comming back some what, if that's the case, perhaps this patron of ratness will see play... :/
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Brian Tinsman, Set Designer :?mana::snow::snow:
Legendary Creature – Human Designer (MR)
Brian Tinsman, Set Designer can only be cast during the third set of a block.
When Brian Tinsman, Set Designer enters the battlefield, ignore all flavor and mechanics of the first two sets in the block. "Ok so what do we have here... gothic horror? Scrap it. Expand the Devine Vs. Demonic duel deck to 244 cards and print it!"
2/2
Well in the real ones the green one is a house, its almost like a big seedborn muse, snake decks will love this in block. The black one is good but not too great, it does make mass removal like earthquake more painful than they already are, and against affinity its like a big disciple, which ain't bad.
Well in the real ones the green one is a house, its almost like a big seedborn muse, snake decks will love this in block. The black one is good but not too great, it does make mass removal like earthquake more painful than they already are, and against affinity its like a big disciple, which ain't bad.
it is worth noting, however, that the green one - whose ability DOES hose affinity - does so slower than affinity can hose you. i'm glad they printed something that helps against affinity it seems a little too specific deck-wise. still, it's an interesting card with other uses that might be better suited...
it's tap ability is AMAZING, nonetheless (except, perhaps, against the mirror...).
Well I'm glad I was wrong about the Patron of the Orochi.:chibi:
Since you can play these patrons has fast effects you could use the Patron of the Nezumi ability to get a surprise win. I'm really looking forward to these cards. (I hope we get one more creature with the Offering ability: Ogre Offering)
The Patrons seem quite powerful, and ironically, may make tribal decks better than they were in Onslaught block (save maybe goblins, but that sucker isn't bad either). Don't forget these fatties can be played as INSTANTS, getting around combat math and the "EOT tap for thirst" of MUC decks.
I'm really happy about the Patron of the Orochi, snake decks were already in the works with awesome cards such as Elder, Sosuke's Summons and Sosuke himself! So this thing is deffinately going to see play, I doubt as much in Type 2 as in Block.
I'm also loving the Patron of the Moon, he's totally going in my Moonfolk deck! LOL!!!
I'm completely serious, I've got a moonfolk deck, its going to rock block!!!!!
:kittybread::kittybread::kittybread::kittybread:
Just like the kitty
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:symwg::symwg::symwg::symwg::symwg::symwg::symwg:
Wolf Rider of the Selesnya Guild! Join the Selesnya Guild! Signature by: me Awesome Avatar by IloveAtogs Thanks!
Originally Posted by PolarBearGod
I would hate to be the people who try and keep everything secretive about new sets and stuff. Magic players are like crack fiends for info on new stuff - myself included I guess.:rolleyes:
im confused by people saying the black one hoses affinity..
heres why..
Affinity player> sac everything to rav, disciple triggers...
Black player> as an instant, drop the patron
affinity player> okay.. you still lose..
The sacing ability is a cost, so the permenants are already in the graveyard. And if you try to drop the patron before that.. the affinity player just doesnt sac things and beats you down with a cranial plating on orni... this is too slow to beat vialfinnity anyway..
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Quote from sirgog »
I'd say it's about as likely as a cat surviving 10 min in a microwave.
No, once they sac the first permanent, priority passes to the black player. The play their Patron before the disciple can trigger, and then both the offering and disciple trigger. Now the affinity player can sac again, but they now know that the Patron is out. It now basically comes down to who has more life, which most likely will be the black player.
... or the arti player if they are playing agressive... I'm still iffy on the rat patron, I like it sure, but I doubt their will be any playable rats (minous chittering... and possibly Ink-Eyes, but who would sac her?! ... unless your playing re-animator.)
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Brian Tinsman, Set Designer :?mana::snow::snow:
Legendary Creature – Human Designer (MR)
Brian Tinsman, Set Designer can only be cast during the third set of a block.
When Brian Tinsman, Set Designer enters the battlefield, ignore all flavor and mechanics of the first two sets in the block. "Ok so what do we have here... gothic horror? Scrap it. Expand the Devine Vs. Demonic duel deck to 244 cards and print it!"
2/2
I do think that the green one is the best of the lot, it has the most potentcy for constructed play, followed maybe by the Moon Patron?
Thanks R_E!
I don't believe the patrons will have very little contructed play if at all (maybe block). I do though find them to be very high picks in limited and could be drafted without thinking of creature type. For example a b/g spirit deck could find room for the green and black patrons even without any snakes or rats drafted. :chibi:
Cutthroat, Throat-Slitter, maybe Ronin, maybe Ink-Eyes if she's decent, put a pair of Kokushos and 3 Patrons out at the top of the mana curve, maybe use Bile Urchin to fill in for 1-drops. Add in a pair of either Kusari-Gama or Neko-Te, maybe 3 in any combination, and fill the rest with kill cards and support (Rends, SDT, Sickening Shoal, the unnamed reanimator spell, etc.). This is just off the top of my head, I'm sure I can do better if I refine it.
BTW, saccing to the Patron or bouncing via Ninjutsu will save the creature from RFG-ing, so it all works together.
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Some wonder why I carry 8 decks on me. The answer? I get tired of being boarded against in casual games, and 90% of the players I meet can't beat a jank deck I made to be tokens for a serious one.
well i did like the original versions but the updated ones totality rock specially since theyre such large creatures with relevant abilities.... mayb with some good rat ninjas the nezumi patron will be tourny wothy.... mayb
So far, I'd say the black one and the green one have the most constructed potential in both block and T2. In limited they're all bombs. Even though it costs a card on the board, it's worth it to get these beatsticks on the board earlier.
In limited, the green one is about SICK. Attack with all my creatures, cast my spells, untap my creatures and lands, cast more spells. During opponent's turn, block, untap AGAIN, cast instants, opponent weeps, etc.
oh wow! And PotN can be played off of expensive cc ninja that come in cheaper. Lemme see.. That's Cutthroat on turn2, Throat Slitter ninjutsu on turn3 (kill something), then Cutthroat again on turn4 AND PotN for at instant speed (surprise block.. u lose creature AND 1 life, mwahaha)! He's gonna be included the Rat's Nest precon too! Maaan, my rat deck is gonna be even MORE fun now! I love how ninjutsu refills your hand for more freebies with AEther Vial. Now will someone pleeease find out what Ink-Eyes does?
Wow. These Patrons are really something. Factoring in the Offering mechanic, they're priced very aggressively. Adding in solid P/T and cool abilities, and this is an impressive cycle in my book.
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Dacarnix
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Don't say I'm out of touch with this rampant chaos - your reality
I know well what lies beyond my sleeping refuge - the nightmare I built my own world to escape
from "Imaginary" by Evanescence
Patron of the Orochi - :6mana::symg::symg:
Legendary Creature - Spirit (R)
Snake offering (You may play this card any time you could play an instant by sacrificing a Snake and paying the difference in mana costs between this and the sacrificed Snake. Mana cost includes color.) :symtap:: Untap all forests and all green creatures. Play this ability only once each turn.
7/7
Enchant this with:
Aura of Dominion - :symu::symu:
:1mana:, Tap an untapped creature you control: Untap enchanted creature
Patron untaps your forests and your little green guys. Tap a forest and a little green guy, and Patron untaps.
Aura of Dominion - :symu::symu:
:1mana:, Tap an untapped creature you control: Untap enchanted creature
Patron untaps your forests and your little green guys. Tap a forest and a little green guy, and Patron untaps.
rinse. wash. repeat.
Patron of the Orochi -
Legendary Creature - Spirit (R)
Snake offering (You may play this card any time you could play an instant by sacrificing a Snake and paying the difference in mana costs between this and the sacrificed Snake. Mana cost includes color.)
:symtap:: Untap all forests and all green creatures. Play this ability only once each turn.
7/7
Aura of Dominion - :symu::symu:
:1mana:, Tap an untapped creature you control: Untap enchanted creature
Patron untaps your forests and your little green guys. Tap a forest and a little green guy, and Patron untaps.
rinse. wash. repeat.
Besides the fact that the Snake Patron's ability can be used only once a turn, he also untaps himself with that ability as he is also a green creature.
So Aura of Dominion would not be required. (if R&D had not decided to ruin another unbounded mana combo)
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Because I Can...
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Wrong.
Important parts bolded.
That, or you use the land for damage before combat ends...
Legendary Creature – Human Designer (MR)
Brian Tinsman, Set Designer can only be cast during the third set of a block.
When Brian Tinsman, Set Designer enters the battlefield, ignore all flavor and mechanics of the first two sets in the block.
"Ok so what do we have here... gothic horror? Scrap it. Expand the Devine Vs. Demonic duel deck to 244 cards and print it!"
2/2
And it also completely destroys ravager decks.
it's tap ability is AMAZING, nonetheless (except, perhaps, against the mirror...).
-aNia_
-sig by alex, avatar by aNia_
Since you can play these patrons has fast effects you could use the Patron of the Nezumi ability to get a surprise win. I'm really looking forward to these cards. (I hope we get one more creature with the Offering ability: Ogre Offering)
The Patrons seem quite powerful, and ironically, may make tribal decks better than they were in Onslaught block (save maybe goblins, but that sucker isn't bad either). Don't forget these fatties can be played as INSTANTS, getting around combat math and the "EOT tap for thirst" of MUC decks.
I'm also loving the Patron of the Moon, he's totally going in my Moonfolk deck! LOL!!!
I'm completely serious, I've got a moonfolk deck, its going to rock block!!!!!
:kittybread::kittybread::kittybread::kittybread:
Just like the kitty
:symwg::symwg::symwg::symwg::symwg::symwg::symwg:
Wolf Rider of the Selesnya Guild!
Join the Selesnya Guild!
Signature by: me
Awesome Avatar by IloveAtogs Thanks!
Quoted for truthery!
heres why..
Affinity player> sac everything to rav, disciple triggers...
Black player> as an instant, drop the patron
affinity player> okay.. you still lose..
The sacing ability is a cost, so the permenants are already in the graveyard. And if you try to drop the patron before that.. the affinity player just doesnt sac things and beats you down with a cranial plating on orni... this is too slow to beat vialfinnity anyway..
Legendary Creature – Human Designer (MR)
Brian Tinsman, Set Designer can only be cast during the third set of a block.
When Brian Tinsman, Set Designer enters the battlefield, ignore all flavor and mechanics of the first two sets in the block.
"Ok so what do we have here... gothic horror? Scrap it. Expand the Devine Vs. Demonic duel deck to 244 cards and print it!"
2/2
Thanks R_E!
EDH:
:symw::symu: Hannah
Sad Day's Tommorow
Almost Nine-Tails
Standard:
Legacy:
Cutthroat, Throat-Slitter, maybe Ronin, maybe Ink-Eyes if she's decent, put a pair of Kokushos and 3 Patrons out at the top of the mana curve, maybe use Bile Urchin to fill in for 1-drops. Add in a pair of either Kusari-Gama or Neko-Te, maybe 3 in any combination, and fill the rest with kill cards and support (Rends, SDT, Sickening Shoal, the unnamed reanimator spell, etc.). This is just off the top of my head, I'm sure I can do better if I refine it.
BTW, saccing to the Patron or bouncing via Ninjutsu will save the creature from RFG-ing, so it all works together.
In limited, the green one is about SICK. Attack with all my creatures, cast my spells, untap my creatures and lands, cast more spells. During opponent's turn, block, untap AGAIN, cast instants, opponent weeps, etc.
Record: 3-2
Simpsons Mafia (Newbie) - Vanilla Mafia - Win
The Fiasco Corporation - Town Reporter - Loss
Doomsday Mafia - Mafia Roleblocker - Win
Battle Royale Mafia - Serial Daykiller - Loss
Danger City Mafia - Vanilla Town - Win
<Qzilla> losing to girls at magic is such a high
:railgun: railin suckers on TheEdge since '98..
------------------
Don't say I'm out of touch with this rampant chaos - your reality
I know well what lies beyond my sleeping refuge - the nightmare I built my own world to escape
from "Imaginary" by Evanescence
Enchant this with:
Aura of Dominion - :symu::symu:
:1mana:, Tap an untapped creature you control: Untap enchanted creature
Patron untaps your forests and your little green guys. Tap a forest and a little green guy, and Patron untaps.
rinse. wash. repeat.
Patron of the Orochi -
Legendary Creature - Spirit (R)
Snake offering (You may play this card any time you could play an instant by sacrificing a Snake and paying the difference in mana costs between this and the sacrificed Snake. Mana cost includes color.)
:symtap:: Untap all forests and all green creatures. Play this ability only once each turn.
7/7
Besides the fact that the Snake Patron's ability can be used only once a turn, he also untaps himself with that ability as he is also a green creature.
So Aura of Dominion would not be required. (if R&D had not decided to ruin another unbounded mana combo)