I think people are underating the demon legend...yeah he dies to bolt, but he evades [cardDoom Blade[/card]. A growing creature that causes uncounterable loss of life is pretty powerful. This is certainly better than Maga, Traitor to Mortals imho and that saw competitive play.
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"But then are we most in order when we are most out of order."-Jack Cade
"That is not dead which can eternal lie, And with strange aeons even death may die."
- H.P. Lovecraft
Nissa isn't BG which means I will gloat the next time I play. I do find her odd, but I suppose in a RG Elves deck her ultimate with anything that gives all your guys haste would be nasty.
There are also new cards on the Visual Spoiler page:
Guul Draz Specter: Looks like Mono-Black Control just found its finisher. Well, this or Nyxathid, still kind of a toss-up probably.
Roil Elemental: Costs too much to be constructed-worthy, but a limited bomb.
Blood Tribute: There's the kill combo! Blood Tribute + Sanguine Bond = GG. Congrats to those that called it.
Elemental Appeal: There's the 14/1 too. Still doesn't seem that good...9 mana for a 14/1 Ball Lightning? Meh. If you have 9 mana, you're playing burn spells and you STILL need 14 more damage, you're doing something wrong.
wow - that is one helluva third ability on Nissa - I did not even come close to guessing the elf love on this one. This really looks a lot like tribal which I thought would not have any strong showing in Zendikar.
wow - that is one helluva third ability on Nissa - I did not even come close to guessing the elf love on this one. This really looks a lot like tribal which I thought would not have any strong showing in Zendikar.
IIRC, Nissa's fluff is that she's an elf supremacist. Elf tribal effects were expected of her by quite a few people, but it's interesting that ALL THREE of her abilities went tribal.
Mmmm that artwork on blood tribute is very sexy (cept for the claws)
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"When a warrior of light tries to extinguish the darkness, he becomes seduced by it, becoming the thing he despises, he becomes the hated."
Standard: jund(GRB)jank
I think nissa is very good, I would hate to have her with +1 loyalty due to the fact that elves are powerful enough. her design seems really cool too. The demon is cool, but I don't see why they had to frame the art so off center. Elemental appeal is just bonkers, I mean its decent at 4 mana but I doubt I will ever see it kicked into the opponent face though. the specter is not very good, getting to a 0 card hand is really dificult if it is your opponent. The elemental is cool! is this the first mono blue card ramond swanland has ever made?
all a bunch of good stuff.
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a small sentence for you to read while you ignore my post.
Nissa is pretty cool. She's amazing at defending herself, but yeah...you gotta run a 2/3 for 2 mana. Other than that, she seems a little nuts. I mean, the best planeswalkers defend themselves. Elspeth makes 1/1's. Nissa makes 2/3's. I'm not saying she's as good as Elspeth, but she shows promise if the elves come out to play.
Roil Elemental is awesome. I don't think it's good enough for competitive, but the ability is just great.
The demon is pretty sexy. A 3/3 that deals damage and grows for playing a land is very powerful.
Nissa bores me, but that's because elves bore me. Can we have one block where Elves and Goblins don't get pushed? (Yes, I know about Odyssey...a step in the right direction)
The Demon is either completely nuts or completely worthless, I'm not sure yet. I can't help thinking that he's an awful topdeck (while it does make topdecking lands afterwards useful, it also means he's a vanilla 3/3 for 5 until you find one).
Roil Elemental is a little too small to survive too long, but the effect is really strong. In a deck that could protect it well AND return lands, it'd be killer. Too bad there's nothing like Thwart around.
Like the Specter, but it's outclassed in its own color by Vampire Nighthawk. Cool for Specter tribal, though.
People seem to be underestimating Elemental Appeal. Everyone seems to be saying "there's no way I'd pay 5RRRR for that" without considering that without kicker, it's basically Blistering Firecat without the morph. Ball Lightning T3 followed by this T4 seems pretty nasty to me.
LOVE Blood Tribute. Excellent flavor (which everything seems to have...looks like Beyer's OK as long as he doesn't have to write novels) and a massive effect when kicked, plus the whole instakill with Sanguine Bond. Also has awesome artwork (as does the Elemental and the Demon).
EDIT: Sarnathed. Bah. And I picked the wrong free counter the first time. Double bah.
wow, just wow, I am in love with a lot of these cards.
Elemental Appeal:
RRRR for basically a Ball Lightning. The kicker is like early game "WTF Who would pay that ****?!" late game that kicker is like "HELLS YEAH!".
Blood Tribute:
Although I am not as a hardcore black mage as some of my fellow forum members, I do love the spell. Why? For merely tapping that 2/2 for B and draining half your opponent's life rounded up to nourish your own is badass, albet the cc a bit expensive but way worth it.
Roil Elemental:
I looked at the body of this guy first, and thought gee it must be uncommon or something to be a 3/2 and might have a bad landfall ability. I was wrong, that ability is sick if you can get this guy out early game. Fetch Land -> Forest/Island -> Rampant Growth -> I take 3 of your creatures thank you very much. I didn't notice till later his rarity was rare.
Guul Draz Specter:
Hippy 2.0, with an interesting no hand effect. Makes me wish Raven's Crime was t2 still, would have made this guy real brutal mid or late game.
Nissa Revane:
Ah yes the PW I WAS EXPECTING. Her first +1 ability intrigues me, it interacts with basically a elf that keeps coming back more. Her 2nd +1 ability is also good, if you ultimate then next turn 2nd ability, that could be a good 10-20 life right their. Her cc is GREAT!~ Her loyalty is low, maybe she doesn't trust another humble PW as much.
Nissa's Chosen:
My first thoughts: "Its an elvish warrior but it gets sent to the bottom of the library. What the devil good is that?" Then I looked at the above PW's first ability and then I went "OH! Duh..."
Ob Nixilis, the Fallen:
I don't know where he fell from but hey he has a fantastic landfall ability. Ehhh on the 5cc and 3/3 body. Then it struck me: Fetch Land -> Swamp -> Rampant Growth -> Opponent loses 9 life, this guy is now a 12/12. Not bad if I say so myself, if this guy could come out and play as soon as turn 3 that would be shockingly good.
Nissa - meh, still want her for my Planeswalker collection and might build a casual deck for her but I prefer my 'walkers playable in most decks that can support their colour.
Blood Tribute - Shallow note: art is ****ing sexy and me want foil.
Elemental Appeal - Cool flavour and effect. Won't see much play in Constructed. Limited is okay if only for it's regular cost.
Roil Elemental - EDH shenanigans? May test in Grand Arbiter.
Guul Draz Specter - Love the synergy of abilities. Specter, Vampires and Goblins have been my favourite creature types for a long time.
Ob Nixlis - Big Bad of Zendikar? Sanguine Bond and Blood Tribute in EDH with him as General? Want to build that deck. Limited he is a nice bomb. Sealed he seems better to me for some reason.
The cards that have been spoiled so far has made me want two boxes and a fat pack.
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MTGS: You guys do not speak for the wider Magic community despite what you guys think.
708th at Grand Prix: Toronto 2013
Modern: U/R Delver, RUG Scapeshift, Pod
Standard: Jeskai Tempo
Legacy: Dredge, Burn
Pauper: Mono-U Delver
EDH: Ghave, Token Master
Ugh, I am so upset that I just traded away my Elvish Archdruid earlier today. Not because I think elves will be especially good, I just would have gotten way better value for it with Nissa spoiled.
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Currently playing
Standard: UBR Grixis Control WUB Time Sieve WUBEsper Artifacts
"That is not dead which can eternal lie, And with strange aeons even death may die."
- H.P. Lovecraft
WUBRGPauper Battle BoxWUBRG ... and why I am not a fan of Wayne Reynolds' Illustrations.
Guul Draz Specter: Looks like Mono-Black Control just found its finisher. Well, this or Nyxathid, still kind of a toss-up probably.
Roil Elemental: Costs too much to be constructed-worthy, but a limited bomb.
Blood Tribute: There's the kill combo! Blood Tribute + Sanguine Bond = GG. Congrats to those that called it.
Elemental Appeal: There's the 14/1 too. Still doesn't seem that good...9 mana for a 14/1 Ball Lightning? Meh. If you have 9 mana, you're playing burn spells and you STILL need 14 more damage, you're doing something wrong.
Predatory Urge: Terribly overcosted. Unplayable.
~
IIRC, Nissa's fluff is that she's an elf supremacist. Elf tribal effects were expected of her by quite a few people, but it's interesting that ALL THREE of her abilities went tribal.
Also, Elemental Appeal really, really makes me want to build Ball Lightning.dek. If only Spark Elemental were still around..
Trades
Pucatrade with me!
(Signature courtesy of Argetlam of Hakai Studios
"When a warrior of light tries to extinguish the darkness, he becomes seduced by it, becoming the thing he despises, he becomes the hated."
Standard: jund(GRB)jank
I think nissa is very good, I would hate to have her with +1 loyalty due to the fact that elves are powerful enough. her design seems really cool too. The demon is cool, but I don't see why they had to frame the art so off center. Elemental appeal is just bonkers, I mean its decent at 4 mana but I doubt I will ever see it kicked into the opponent face though. the specter is not very good, getting to a 0 card hand is really dificult if it is your opponent. The elemental is cool! is this the first mono blue card ramond swanland has ever made?
all a bunch of good stuff.
Roil Elemental is awesome. I don't think it's good enough for competitive, but the ability is just great.
The demon is pretty sexy. A 3/3 that deals damage and grows for playing a land is very powerful.
Nissa bores me, but that's because elves bore me. Can we have one block where Elves and Goblins don't get pushed? (Yes, I know about Odyssey...a step in the right direction)
The Demon is either completely nuts or completely worthless, I'm not sure yet. I can't help thinking that he's an awful topdeck (while it does make topdecking lands afterwards useful, it also means he's a vanilla 3/3 for 5 until you find one).
Roil Elemental is a little too small to survive too long, but the effect is really strong. In a deck that could protect it well AND return lands, it'd be killer. Too bad there's nothing like Thwart around.
Like the Specter, but it's outclassed in its own color by Vampire Nighthawk. Cool for Specter tribal, though.
People seem to be underestimating Elemental Appeal. Everyone seems to be saying "there's no way I'd pay 5RRRR for that" without considering that without kicker, it's basically Blistering Firecat without the morph. Ball Lightning T3 followed by this T4 seems pretty nasty to me.
LOVE Blood Tribute. Excellent flavor (which everything seems to have...looks like Beyer's OK as long as he doesn't have to write novels) and a massive effect when kicked, plus the whole instakill with Sanguine Bond. Also has awesome artwork (as does the Elemental and the Demon).
EDIT: Sarnathed. Bah. And I picked the wrong free counter the first time. Double bah.
UBDragonlord Silumgar WGKarametra, God of Harvests
BRUNekusar, the Mindrazer BGMazirek, Kraul Death Priest
URMelek, Izzet Paragon UGPrime Speaker Zegana
WUHanna, Ship's Navigator BWUSydri, Galvanic Genius
WUBRGSliver Queen RBBladewing the Risen
WBKarlov of the Ghost Council RGXenagos, God of Revels
GFreyalise, Llanowar's Fury RWAurelia, the Warleader
RIb Halfheart, Goblin Tactician BDrana, Liberator of Malakir
UAzami, Lady of Scrolls WNahiri, the Lithomancer
WBGDoran, the Siege Tower CEmrakul, the Promised End
- Main Cube
- No Brains, All Feelings Cube
Standard:
RURuneflare ComboRU
-----------------------
WURBGGreanimator WURBG
Elder Dragon Highlander:
GUMomir VigGU
Elemental Appeal:
RRRR for basically a Ball Lightning. The kicker is like early game "WTF Who would pay that ****?!" late game that kicker is like "HELLS YEAH!".
Blood Tribute:
Although I am not as a hardcore black mage as some of my fellow forum members, I do love the spell. Why? For merely tapping that 2/2 for B and draining half your opponent's life rounded up to nourish your own is badass, albet the cc a bit expensive but way worth it.
Roil Elemental:
I looked at the body of this guy first, and thought gee it must be uncommon or something to be a 3/2 and might have a bad landfall ability. I was wrong, that ability is sick if you can get this guy out early game. Fetch Land -> Forest/Island -> Rampant Growth -> I take 3 of your creatures thank you very much. I didn't notice till later his rarity was rare.
Guul Draz Specter:
Hippy 2.0, with an interesting no hand effect. Makes me wish Raven's Crime was t2 still, would have made this guy real brutal mid or late game.
Nissa Revane:
Ah yes the PW I WAS EXPECTING. Her first +1 ability intrigues me, it interacts with basically a elf that keeps coming back more. Her 2nd +1 ability is also good, if you ultimate then next turn 2nd ability, that could be a good 10-20 life right their. Her cc is GREAT!~ Her loyalty is low, maybe she doesn't trust another humble PW as much.
Nissa's Chosen:
My first thoughts: "Its an elvish warrior but it gets sent to the bottom of the library. What the devil good is that?" Then I looked at the above PW's first ability and then I went "OH! Duh..."
Ob Nixilis, the Fallen:
I don't know where he fell from but hey he has a fantastic landfall ability. Ehhh on the 5cc and 3/3 body. Then it struck me: Fetch Land -> Swamp -> Rampant Growth -> Opponent loses 9 life, this guy is now a 12/12. Not bad if I say so myself, if this guy could come out and play as soon as turn 3 that would be shockingly good.
Loving the cards so far in Zendikar
Blood Tribute - Shallow note: art is ****ing sexy and me want foil.
Elemental Appeal - Cool flavour and effect. Won't see much play in Constructed. Limited is okay if only for it's regular cost.
Roil Elemental - EDH shenanigans? May test in Grand Arbiter.
Guul Draz Specter - Love the synergy of abilities. Specter, Vampires and Goblins have been my favourite creature types for a long time.
Ob Nixlis - Big Bad of Zendikar? Sanguine Bond and Blood Tribute in EDH with him as General? Want to build that deck. Limited he is a nice bomb. Sealed he seems better to me for some reason.
The cards that have been spoiled so far has made me want two boxes and a fat pack.
708th at Grand Prix: Toronto 2013
Modern: U/R Delver, RUG Scapeshift, Pod
Standard: Jeskai Tempo
Legacy: Dredge, Burn
Pauper: Mono-U Delver
EDH: Ghave, Token Master
no, they art below is the art they used for the Xbox game. the art above is the original art. they sexed nissa down for the xbox.
Standard:
RURuneflare ComboRU
-----------------------
WURBGGreanimator WURBG
Elder Dragon Highlander:
GUMomir VigGU
Standard:
UBR Grixis Control
WUB Time Sieve
WUB Esper Artifacts
Thus, I'll be "that guy."
Blood Tribute's art is about as erotic to me as a Magic card can get.