What the hell? Black creatures shouldn't have exalted. They're evil and exalted is only for good creatures.
Black also shouldn't get miracles. And 'good' cards, because 'good' cards are for 'good' guys.
Black should get 2/2 for 1 with drawback and uncastable big demons, now that's evil.
I kinda just wish people would stop complaining that they gave a Black creature Exalted. I personally think it is a cool direction that Wizards is taking the Mechanic in. We as nerds always find something to complain about, even if it isn't that big of a deal.
I've already stated that in Alaran fluff, traits of the five Shards have been bleeding into each other. This is simply just evidence of that.
Exalted coming back is great.
It being in black showcases that it isn't always evil, but it does value the individual above the group.
Where white exalted uses a noble delegate, black uses a corrupt politician to do battle.
Now to the grixis in question:
Core sets survey various planes when they feel they want to, but mostly aim at generic fantasy settings without naming the planes to convey the idea that these types of things are common throughout the multiverse. This is tougher with some creatures, so thats where we get Xathrid Demon, Kalonian Behemoth and the like, to evoke a lore around the creatures.
With Exalted, it is already tied to Bant, but Bant isn't a separate shard anymore. All of Alara is one merged plane now. While we haven't seen all the action, we can see further merging shown within planechase in the wanderer, GU cascade Artifact guy, and etherium horned minotaur. As such; different abilities can also bleed to be homogenous amongst the plane where it seems to fit. A particularly black aligned sphinx might get a kick from devouring guys, anything can be metal, a more tricksy angel or super savage beast can easily be unearthed. A demon who has tricked the people into singing his praises, or pays off a minion to fight for him is not only within the realm, but a very neat way to redefine the roles we originally thought of when they created the mechanic.
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Does this also mean that we will be getting some good color fixing then in this coreset if they are bringing back much of the flavor from shards?
I don't think that can be ascertained by the evidence of exalted, no.
Just because one mechanic set in one plane is in the core set doesn't mean that this is "M13: Alara Unsundered" It just means that they are trying to give it ties back to its original world for flavor value. I don't foresee much more than subtle homages here and there from Alara outside of what uses Exalted.
However, the presence of Nicol Bolas may mean that there are other multicolored cards in the set as well. Probably not at anything but rare and mythic. In the past there has been 5 dual lands and either terramorphic expanse or manalith for mana fixing, and perhaps we'll see a change in this but there is no information to back that conjecture.
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in the new planechase release, they had a lot of fun with references to past planes. it seems likely that this is en vogue with wotc r&d right now, so i'd expect a few core set cards to refernce past worlds. it is a liiittle fishy that we've seen exalted, a grixis reference, and nicol bolas all in the very few cards we've seen, but i still believe that we're not really on alara here, and these are just a few shout outs.
That seems like just about the worst idea ever. Having a few references to the brand is fine, but core sets are supposed to be Magic's essence, not tied to a single place (or thing, for that matter, but I doubt we'll ever run into that problem). That's what separates the core sets and the year's block, and why it's the core set. It's important that it captures Magic broadly.
I hope they don't break this general rule. Throwing a few minor rules like no legendary or multicolor out the window is fine, but this is one that absolutely should never be touched.
That seems like just about the worst idea ever. Having a few references to the brand is fine, but core sets are supposed to be Magic's essence, not tied to a single place (or thing, for that matter, but I doubt we'll ever run into that problem). That's what separates the core sets and the year's block, and why it's the core set. It's important that it captures Magic broadly.
I hope they don't break this general rule. Throwing a few minor rules like no legendary or multicolor is fine, but this is one that absolutely should never be touched.
Core sets never have and never will take place on any particular plane. They have recently been using mechanics from other sets (Bloodthirst and now Exalted), but there is no particular setting.
Cards are taken from all over the Multiverse, some directly reference a plane, others don't.
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I guess since Alara merged, it's okay to see that a black card has Exalted. Anyways, it's the most boring Alara mechanic, imo, but it's cool to see it return. I like the card. Good for the MBC deck I might make eventually.
I'm thinking the Grixis reference is nothing more than a nod to the fact that players associate the word with the color combination already, regardless if there is any sort of connection to alara at all...
I honestly don't understand how could anyone think differently, considering we have another card that references Xathrid.
In an article before M10 they said they don´t want cards in a coreset that are related to an specific plane.
They took these old cards and put a new name on it just to make them "non-plane-related".
Example Kodama's Reach -> Cultivate
When they use a grixis-related name on a card, it COULD be a hint that M13 will be the first coreset that take place on a plane, no more, no less.
Wasn't Kodama's Reach changed because it is an Arcane card, which is pointless complexity for a core set?
In an article before M10 they said they don´t want cards in a coreset that are related to an specific plane.
They took these old cards and put a new name on it just to make them "non-plane-related".
Example Kodama's Reach -> Cultivate
It's not that they can't reference planes (Armored Cancrix clearly is nice post-TSP nod), they use MTG flavor that is easy to understand, but still feels unique. Nothing about a demon named "Overlord of Grixis" is hard to understand. It's a bonus if you know about Alara, but you don't need to have been there to "get it."
It's understandable blue control players would be shocked and in denial at the notion of this card, since their decks have been dominating multiple formats for an eternity yet they've curiously never once had to deal with any counter-hosers that weren't ineffectual, narrow CRAP.
This may be a bit of a stretch, but with the confirmation of legendary creatures (Nefarox) and at least one multicolored card (Bolas), I'm really hoping we see some multicolored legendary creatures in this core set! I don't know about anyone else, but I would be ecstatic if they reprinted some of the commander cards so we can get foil versions of Kaalia of the Vast and Ghave, Guru of Spores (who should've been foiled in their commander decks as opposed to that oversized foil card jank). I feel like it might be a longshot, but I can dream, right? =)
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I'm thinking the Grixis reference is nothing more than a nod to the fact that players associate the word with the color combination already, regardless if there is any sort of connection to alara at all...
I'd go one step further. It's more than a nod; it's educational, too. Seeing "Grixis," "Bant," etc. used commonly in tournament coverage and in articles is confusing for players (like me) who did not play during Alara. At least theoretically, the Core Set is where new players encounter the basics and essentials for understanding and playing the game. I therefore expect to see all of the shards' names in M13 -- maybe even multiple times and at multiple rarities (since rares are not the most convenient means for teaching players about concepts).
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I'd go one step further. It's more than a nod; it's educational, too. Seeing "Grixis," "Bant," etc. used commonly in tournament coverage and in articles is confusing for players (like me) who did not play during Alara. At least theoretically, the Core Set is where new players encounter the basics and essentials for understanding and playing the game. I therefore expect to see all of the shards' names in M13 -- maybe even multiple times and at multiple rarities (since rares are not the most convenient means for teaching players about concepts).
Except this card is Mono-Black. I would agree that it's a clever way to educate players, but it's a bit of a mis-step with this particular legend.
I like black exalted. It takes two very stereotypical flavour traits: honourable solo combat, and the evil cartoon villain's "Get out of my way! This one's mine!" and blends it into a unique mechanical identity.
Unfortunately, the best possible exalted creature is a cheap 1-drop lady who helps you play your haymakers faster, and that card is not in black's colour pie and already exists via Noble Hierarch. Bad-Rafiq is interesting, but Bant already mined out the vast majority of good exalted designs, which are: 1. Beaters with combat abilities that scale with size, like trample, first strike, lifelink and 2. Small utility creatures which don't attack themselves. Examples: Akrasan Squire, Rafiq of the Many, Noble Hierarch, Rhox Charger, Sigiled Paladin, Battlegrace Angel, Guardians of Arkrasa. Hopefully they can give us something good, though.
I guess since Alara merged, it's okay to see that a black card has Exalted. Anyways, it's the most boring Alara mechanic, imo, but it's cool to see it return. I like the card. Good for the MBC deck I might make eventually.
Really? colored artifacts and 5 power matters seemed more boring to me than single attacker bonuses.
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Black also shouldn't get miracles. And 'good' cards, because 'good' cards are for 'good' guys.
Black should get 2/2 for 1 with drawback and uncastable big demons, now that's evil.
I've already stated that in Alaran fluff, traits of the five Shards have been bleeding into each other. This is simply just evidence of that.
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Still pretty cool though, and core set legends are exciting.
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It being in black showcases that it isn't always evil, but it does value the individual above the group.
Where white exalted uses a noble delegate, black uses a corrupt politician to do battle.
Now to the grixis in question:
Core sets survey various planes when they feel they want to, but mostly aim at generic fantasy settings without naming the planes to convey the idea that these types of things are common throughout the multiverse. This is tougher with some creatures, so thats where we get Xathrid Demon, Kalonian Behemoth and the like, to evoke a lore around the creatures.
With Exalted, it is already tied to Bant, but Bant isn't a separate shard anymore. All of Alara is one merged plane now. While we haven't seen all the action, we can see further merging shown within planechase in the wanderer, GU cascade Artifact guy, and etherium horned minotaur. As such; different abilities can also bleed to be homogenous amongst the plane where it seems to fit. A particularly black aligned sphinx might get a kick from devouring guys, anything can be metal, a more tricksy angel or super savage beast can easily be unearthed. A demon who has tricked the people into singing his praises, or pays off a minion to fight for him is not only within the realm, but a very neat way to redefine the roles we originally thought of when they created the mechanic.
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I don't think that can be ascertained by the evidence of exalted, no.
Just because one mechanic set in one plane is in the core set doesn't mean that this is "M13: Alara Unsundered" It just means that they are trying to give it ties back to its original world for flavor value. I don't foresee much more than subtle homages here and there from Alara outside of what uses Exalted.
However, the presence of Nicol Bolas may mean that there are other multicolored cards in the set as well. Probably not at anything but rare and mythic. In the past there has been 5 dual lands and either terramorphic expanse or manalith for mana fixing, and perhaps we'll see a change in this but there is no information to back that conjecture.
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That seems like just about the worst idea ever. Having a few references to the brand is fine, but core sets are supposed to be Magic's essence, not tied to a single place (or thing, for that matter, but I doubt we'll ever run into that problem). That's what separates the core sets and the year's block, and why it's the core set. It's important that it captures Magic broadly.
I hope they don't break this general rule. Throwing a few minor rules like no legendary or multicolor out the window is fine, but this is one that absolutely should never be touched.
Core sets never have and never will take place on any particular plane. They have recently been using mechanics from other sets (Bloodthirst and now Exalted), but there is no particular setting.
Cards are taken from all over the Multiverse, some directly reference a plane, others don't.
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I honestly don't understand how could anyone think differently, considering we have another card that references Xathrid.
Wasn't Kodama's Reach changed because it is an Arcane card, which is pointless complexity for a core set?
Why didn't they make a new Bogardan Hellkite? Where is a Kalonian Behemoth from?
It's not that they can't reference planes (Armored Cancrix clearly is nice post-TSP nod), they use MTG flavor that is easy to understand, but still feels unique. Nothing about a demon named "Overlord of Grixis" is hard to understand. It's a bonus if you know about Alara, but you don't need to have been there to "get it."
That is why they did Nantuko Husk -> Vampire Aristocrat
Nafarox is not really any different than Barony Vampire.
Agreed, the titans were over the top. I actually prefer this, since it allows development to apply new keywords/functs.
Some travel til' the end of worlds seeking glory. Others are just trying to find the way home.
I'd go one step further. It's more than a nod; it's educational, too. Seeing "Grixis," "Bant," etc. used commonly in tournament coverage and in articles is confusing for players (like me) who did not play during Alara. At least theoretically, the Core Set is where new players encounter the basics and essentials for understanding and playing the game. I therefore expect to see all of the shards' names in M13 -- maybe even multiple times and at multiple rarities (since rares are not the most convenient means for teaching players about concepts).
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Except this card is Mono-Black. I would agree that it's a clever way to educate players, but it's a bit of a mis-step with this particular legend.
I like black exalted. It takes two very stereotypical flavour traits: honourable solo combat, and the evil cartoon villain's "Get out of my way! This one's mine!" and blends it into a unique mechanical identity.
Unfortunately, the best possible exalted creature is a cheap 1-drop lady who helps you play your haymakers faster, and that card is not in black's colour pie and already exists via Noble Hierarch. Bad-Rafiq is interesting, but Bant already mined out the vast majority of good exalted designs, which are: 1. Beaters with combat abilities that scale with size, like trample, first strike, lifelink and 2. Small utility creatures which don't attack themselves. Examples: Akrasan Squire, Rafiq of the Many, Noble Hierarch, Rhox Charger, Sigiled Paladin, Battlegrace Angel, Guardians of Arkrasa. Hopefully they can give us something good, though.
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that's industry standard according to MaRo.
Really? colored artifacts and 5 power matters seemed more boring to me than single attacker bonuses.
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not complaining i want more paths
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