People are complaining about the elephant now, but I think once they get some play time in with it that will subside. No it's not going to be playable in standard, but he is still a HUGE beatdown in limited. There's a reason why he looks like a dud and I'm guessing it's because he was simply too powerful in the limited playtesting that they did so they needed to nerf him.
Basically you need to think of it like this: you have powerful cards, and you have efficient cards. In constructed formats efficient cards are what you want. You have a vast cardpool to choose from and no reason not to play the most efficient cards. In limited efficient cards are nice, but they are a luxury. You only get so many picks and you tend to want to spend them on more outright powerful effects, even if they are not mana efficient. This is the same reason why rare lands that people drool over in constructed tend to be relatively low picks in limited. I would take a mist raven over a cavern of souls any day of the week in AVR draft.
This elephant guy has the raw power as well as a fair degree of efficiency. A 4/4 at uncommon is very powerful, and the vast majority of the time this guy will be the biggest guy on the board. That said, the efficiency of some of the other guys might be too great to overcome, only time will tell.
Reprinting absurdly, illogically expensive EDH bombs that see 0 play in other formats? Thank goodness someone at WotC actually made a decision that helps those of us without unlimited money. Too bad it's now a mythic... Can't have everything, I guess. At least it makes sense as a mythic.
The creatures are pretty neat too. Should be tons of fun in limited!
I would expect War Falcon to see lots of play especially in WW.
You've got Doomed Traveler, Champion of Parrish and Silverblade Paladin as very popular white cards who would activate it.
Will 12 one drops be too much for WW? Maybe but a 2/1 flier frequently able to attack on T2 is nothing to sneeze at.
Thalia is a soldier as well.
Also, Knight of Glory is a 1W Human Knight with exalted that could easily make WW to activate the War Falcon.
I could see:
T1 - Plains / War Falcon
T2 - Cathedral of War / Knight of Glory -- Swing for 4
With a backup of Doomed Traveler instead of War Falcon swinging for 3/3.
If a Silverblade Paladin comes out turn 3, you've got them over half gone.
Hero of Bladeholder and Mirran Crusader also activate it.
If Elite Vanguard sees scattered play, which is better, 2/1 flier or 2/1 ground human type?
I would expect War Falcon to see lots of play especially in WW.
You've got Doomed Traveler, Champion of Parrish and Silverblade Paladin as very popular white cards who would activate it.
Will 12 one drops be too much for WW? Maybe but a 2/1 flier frequently able to attack on T2 is nothing to sneeze at.
Thalia is a soldier as well.
Also, Knight of Glory is a 1W Human Knight with exalted that could easily make WW to activate the War Falcon.
I could see:
T1 - Plains / War Falcon
T2 - Cathedral of War / Knight of Glory -- Swing for 4
With a backup of Doomed Traveler instead of War Falcon swinging for 3/3.
If a Silverblade Paladin comes out turn 3, you've got them over half gone.
Hero of Bladeholder and Mirran Crusader also activate it.
If Elite Vanguard sees scattered play, which is better, 2/1 flier or 2/1 ground human type?
Cathedral of War comes in tapped, so no Knight of Glory on turn 2.
I have always enjoyed the bird tribe and been wanting a return of them since Onslaught brought all of their "see the top 4 cards of you library" shenanigans and their general awesomeness.
What does War Falcon have for breakfast to hit as hard as Grizzly Bears .
Falcons can actually do quite a bit of damage. Take the peregrine for example: It attacks its prey from over 1,000 feet in the air, diving at speeds above 200mph, and striking the prey in the back, breaking bone and severing the spinal cord. They have been known on occasion to take down a full sized buck with this technique.
Basically you need to think of it like this: you have powerful cards, and you have efficient cards. In constructed formats efficient cards are what you want. You have a vast cardpool to choose from and no reason not to play the most efficient cards. In limited efficient cards are nice, but they are a luxury. You only get so many picks and you tend to want to spend them on more outright powerful effects, even if they are not mana efficient. This is the same reason why rare lands that people drool over in constructed tend to be relatively low picks in limited. I would take a mist raven over a cavern of souls any day of the week in AVR draft.
This elephant guy has the raw power as well as a fair degree of efficiency. A 4/4 at uncommon is very powerful, and the vast majority of the time this guy will be the biggest guy on the board. That said, the efficiency of some of the other guys might be too great to overcome, only time will tell.
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WUR Enduring Ideal RUW
GGG Stompy Crux GGG
-- Elder Dragon Highlander --
UBU
Grimgrin, Zombie HordeUBURWR
Jor Kadeen TronRWRBRU Sedris Beatdown URB
UUU Llawan, Empress of "No" UUU
WBW Vish Kal Tron WBW
GRG Thromok Token GRG
RRR Zo-Zu, Hater of Everything RRR
Wurmcoil is now Lifelink, Deathtouch, Flying, Trample, Haste, First Strike, Pro Red and Black. Yeah, have fun dealing with that giant beast.
The creatures are pretty neat too. Should be tons of fun in limited!
Needs moar Delver.
You've got Doomed Traveler, Champion of Parrish and Silverblade Paladin as very popular white cards who would activate it.
Will 12 one drops be too much for WW? Maybe but a 2/1 flier frequently able to attack on T2 is nothing to sneeze at.
Thalia is a soldier as well.
Also, Knight of Glory is a 1W Human Knight with exalted that could easily make WW to activate the War Falcon.
I could see:
T1 - Plains / War Falcon
T2 - Cathedral of War / Knight of Glory -- Swing for 4
With a backup of Doomed Traveler instead of War Falcon swinging for 3/3.
If a Silverblade Paladin comes out turn 3, you've got them over half gone.
Hero of Bladeholder and Mirran Crusader also activate it.
If Elite Vanguard sees scattered play, which is better, 2/1 flier or 2/1 ground human type?
Cathedral of War comes in tapped, so no Knight of Glory on turn 2.
Standard: W/R Aggro
Bird is wearing a furry coat of all things
Cyriss07
I actually really like when wotc prints bird wizards. It's a flavorful creature to me--I'd like to see one on a counterspell maybe.
Falcons can actually do quite a bit of damage. Take the peregrine for example: It attacks its prey from over 1,000 feet in the air, diving at speeds above 200mph, and striking the prey in the back, breaking bone and severing the spinal cord. They have been known on occasion to take down a full sized buck with this technique.
Heh, the name is actually a reference to the plane (SR-71).
Although, on the WotC forums, I do use the art from Zephyr Falcon for my avatar.
What can I say, I like stuff that flies fast