There is a thread for this kind of thing in the Community Issues forum about bad adds. They are the problem, and that is where you should let the admins know.
So I've only digested this last 100 cards at a glance, but my overall impression of the set is not really a happy one. And that's not, on the face of it, about playability or power level -- the disappointment sometimes stems from that, but only because of the specifics of those elements. There is a huge assortment of creatures at non-Common that are pushed solely on the basis of P/T-to-CMC, and that doesn't bother me because of 'OMG POWER CREEP' but because, oh, I want to play this creature in one of my singleton decks just because it has a huge butt and the Monstrosity ability is gravy.
They really let the ship sail on Instants and Sorceries. There was always something in previous blocks, I don't remember particular sets, that I loved in the Instants/Sorceries. Recurring Insight, Eye of the Storm, Firemind's Foresight... not all cards that were good, but cards that did a thing. Past in Flames? Everyone wanted Past in Flames! It didn't matter what rarity it was printed at, or how much it cost, the players just wanted it... and they got it. Where are the flagship, casual-or-competitive, Sorceries and Instants in Theros? I can't remember one off-hand.
Common has been an absolutely destitute rarity from my first impressions, and uncommon is a similar wasteland pockmarked by the occasional pushed value card. If anything, I think what I love most are all of the cheap, do-little, "draw a card when ETB" auras we ended up getting. That kind of, slap a bunch of cantrips down, maybe get some Heroic triggers, then play some larger spells... that sounds like fun, yeah. I like that kind of play.
But for the most part, I'm just not happy with anything except the art, because even the flavor is weak on many of these cards. There are very few Hundred-Handed Ones overall. Too much of the flavor is tied to the Theros-specific gods and locations, instead of hanging off of some larger archetype or concept. Okay, we got Heroes and Gods and Monsters... but how many of them resonate with something larger than the Theros mythology?
At the end of the day, it's a small-world set where the mechanics I like most out of it are Scry 1 and the very short list of devotion-matters cards. Truly disappointed here.
One more thing: The cycle that destroys it's own color is unbelievably unimaginative and pointless. "Counter target blue spell!" No one will ever run that spell, yes including Legacy.
Except Gainsayis actually a reprint, so your hate is readressed to Planeshift set.
I really hate how Force Spike + Scry 1 costs just 1 more, but Flame Slash + Scry 1 costs 4 more, Grasp of Darkness now costs 4B for no reason, and Vampire Nighthawk without the vital Vampire type, Deathtouch and with one less thoughness somehow comes out costing 1 more mana.
I'm tired of WoTC systemathicaly ****ting on BR, once and again and again as if neither color desserves to be more than splash sideboard padding and a cheap FNM skill tester while their favorite colors UW keep on raking the leadership of metagame after metagame.
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Yes sir, I take fantasy art and character design commissions, PM me for rates.
I really hate how Force Spike + Scry 1 costs just 1 more, but Flame Slash + Scry 1 costs 4 more, Grasp of Darkness now costs 4B for no reason, and Vampire Nighthawk without the vital Vampire type, Deathtouch and with one less thoughness somehow comes out costing 1 more mana.
I'm tired of WoTC systemathicaly ****ting on BR, once and again and again as if neither color desserves to be more than splash sideboard padding and a cheap FNM skill tester while their favorite colors UW keep on raking the leadership of metagame after metagame.
Every color got some nice stuff, though the strictly (way) worse vampire nighthawk did really bug me. To be fair, vampire nighthawk was too good, but I don't think it needed to be hammered down to limited fodder status.
As far as color favoritism, I actually felt like white got the weakest cards in Theros. That's just a first impression though, so we'll see.
Was really sad to see no black sweeper though...was really hoping for even a simple Infest reprint.
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Trolljutai, YOLOghan, Swagumgar, Bromoka, and Derptarka, the Elder Dragons.
Oh, Moth Princess, here's a few more instants and sorceries that you might like.
Curse of the Swine
Swan Song
Dark Betrayal
Hero's Downfall
Read the Bones
Rescue from the Underworld
Anger of the Gods
Magma Jet
Time to Feed (bonus inclusion due the amazing flavor)
Warrior's Lesson
Psychic Intrusion
Steam Augury
Plus, some colour combinations got clear favouritism in Theros. Like, where is the monoblack card with a white-mana costing effect? or reverse? like most other colour combos got.
I don't understand how a single card with an offcolor activation creates this 'clear favouritism', but there's Scholar of Athreos for BW. Each color has 2 such cards and all combinations are represented.
To be fair, vampire nighthawk was too good, but I don't think it needed to be hammered down to limited fodder status.
Vampire Nighthawk wasn't too good, it's a strong card that has always been kept in check by strong removal and other strong creatures. That's the mentality that leaves us playing standard enviroments with only two decks because everything but the "mistakes" completely sucks.
You what I think is a little weird? There's Prognostic Sphinx, but Prescient Chimera. "Prognostic" and "prescient" mean the same thing (lit. "having fore-knowledge"), but the former has Greek roots and the other has Latin roots. Somehow that just feels strange, having both of those.
To be fair, it is a Greco-Roman set. Equal representation, bud.
You what I think is a little weird? There's Prognostic Sphinx, but Prescient Chimera. "Prognostic" and "prescient" mean the same thing (lit. "having fore-knowledge"), but the former has Greek roots and the other has Latin roots. Somehow that just feels strange, having both of those.
Someone Prescient is not inherently Prognostic.
Prognostic implies prediction, which is an action made. Whereas Prescience is simply an implication of knowing, but not one of conveying or acting on that information in regard to others.
After looking through the whole set, the only cards I'm all that excited about are Dissolve and a reprint of Magma Jet. But upon realizing those are the only cards I'm excited about, I'm no longer very excited -_-
I know that they have been ambiguous about whether or not we should think of this as an 'enchantment set/block', but I am extremely disappointed that there are no plain enchantments and only auras and enchantment creatures in their place. The artifacts seem mostly pointless. The lands are underwhelming. Nothing jumps out at me as a particularly fun or exciting combo piece. For a set with so much flavor to it, I don't get how it comes out feeling so bland and boring.
This particular Johnny is very, very sad right now...
Vampire Nighthawk wasn't too good, it's a strong card that has always been kept in check by strong removal and other strong creatures. That's the mentality that leaves us playing standard enviroments with only two decks because everything but the "mistakes" completely sucks.
By that logic, a 10/1 for 2 mana should be fine because it dies to almost every removal right?
Just because a card isn't totally format warping or game breaking doesn't mean it's not too good. In my opinion, Vampire Nighthawk did just a little too much for its cost.
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Trolljutai, YOLOghan, Swagumgar, Bromoka, and Derptarka, the Elder Dragons.
By that logic, a 10/1 for 2 mana should be fine because it dies to almost every removal right?
Just because a card isn't totally format warping or game breaking doesn't mean it's not too good. In my opinion, Vampire Nighthawk did just a little too much for its cost.
Vampire doesn't win in two turns, he's neither opressive or even featured as the top creature in his color during his existance in standard (Gatekeeper, Grave Titan, Geralf's Messenger, Falkenrath Aristocrat, all better), he is good, not too good at all, not undercosted or pushed and I'm sure you would be defending him if he was in any other color.
I bet you people would bend over backwards if cards of such power as Nantuko Shade, Graveborn Muse, Stronghold Assasin and the nightmares ever happened to share a standard again.
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I'm a little surprised not to see more comments about my new best friend, the Colossus. Now, I play RG Tron in Modern - and 8 mana to cast and another 10 the next turn to swing with a 20/20 trample indestructible is VERY appealing to me. I currently run 3 Eldrazi (Emrakul, Ulamog, and Kozilek) and honestly may replace one of the last 2 with this guy (probably Kozilek). The only thing the Eldrazi have over him is that they have "on cast" abilities, annihilator, and the graveyard shuffling. The first helps more against control, but only there. Annihilator won't matter much when you're swinging for 20 trample, and the graveyard shuffle is helpful here and there. On the plus side, Colossus can't be chump blocked and may be as much of a game-over card as Emrakul - except it can do it earlier in a Tron deck.
Oh, and this guy can be fetched with Eye of Ugin (though he won't get costed down by it). Definitely will test this guy out - will have to see if he makes the cut. He should survive most artifact removal with indestructibility - but there's definitely some give/take with this guy in Tron.
Yes - it's the same card that interacts with all the creatures in Tron already and is particularly fond of Wurmcoil Engine. That one card does not change the viability of this since it impact pretty much any creature I could throw out there except for Emrakul (which will never come out of the deck).
Travelling Philosopher should be "Peripatetic Philosopher". Linguistics was done a disservice by forgoing the tradition. It is easy to forgive, however, as Magic as an entity has been so edifying over the years. The standard is set so high that flawlessness is now expected.
Gotta say this is the slowest set I've seen in a long time though. Almost nothing Standard Constructed worthy. Maybe 5-10 cards at the very most, including the planeswalkers.
Got to say, that is one of the most ridiculous statements I have seen this spoiler season. 5-10 cards? You sir, are way, way, waaaaay too pessimistic.
Chained to the Rocks
Fabled Hero
Gift of Immortality
Soldier of the Pantheon
Curse of the Swine
Swan Song
Agent of the Fates
Hero's Downfall
Nighthowler
*Thoughtseize
Whip of Erebos
Anger of the Gods
Ember Swallower
Mistcutter Hydra
Reverent Hunter
Sylvan Caryatid
Anax and Cymede
Fleecemane Lion
Reaper of the Wilds
Steam Augury
Temple of Abandon
Temple of Deceit
Temple of Mystery
Temple of Silence
Temple of Triumph
25 rares of which I am fairly positive they will see some play in constructed. I didn't include any mythics, uncs or commons here either, and there are always cards that turn out way better than you expected. Some of the other weapons, the red 2/1 one-drop, Boon Satyr, Prophet of Kruphix, etc. might all see play. Given that there are 5 rare lands, stating there are only 5-10 constructed worthy cards was a pretty bad prediction to start with
I'm sure you would be defending him if he was in any other color.
Actually, I plan on playing black when Theros hits, and would love to be able to run this guy. You make good points though, and perhaps he isn't too strong. It's just the sort of card that screams "obviously pushed" to me.
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Trolljutai, YOLOghan, Swagumgar, Bromoka, and Derptarka, the Elder Dragons.
Why that Spark something don't deal 2 damage DGAHDSH, it would've been finally the first playable card for legacy. Or even 1 damage to player and 1 to a creature. WotC plz. Nothing playable in a set again sigh.
Man this set is SLOOOOOOOOOW. Gonna make for interesting limited play. Some pretty solid EDH staples, the devotion land is a must have for my Ezuri Elves deck. And Purphoros is a deck by himself.
Gotta say this is the slowest set I've seen in a long time though. Almost nothing Standard Constructed worthy. Maybe 5-10 cards at the very most, including the planeswalkers.
Oh, back to limited, Heroic seems awfully lackluster with very few enablers. Sure, the bestow enchantments are technically enablers, but they're so expensive. Honestly, I'm pretty disappointed with the mechanics in the set. They just seem forced and uninteresting.
One more thing: The cycle that destroys it's own color is unbelievably unimaginative and pointless. "Counter target blue spell!" No one will ever run that spell, yes including Legacy. I don't care if Legacy is 75% blue, it's not going to be better than any blue counter currently being played. Sigh...I miss Zendikar block
Just L O L here! The 5-10 Standard cards is just laughable. At least 5 of the Mythics will see play. Also way to go out on a limb saying Gainsay won't see any play. I mean it hasn't seen play since its originally printed in Planeshift. I don't understand your gripe about being "unimaginative and pointless". The white card of that cycle will see Standard SB play. Peak Eruption could see play if Chained to the Rocks is played a lot.
Heroic will be fine. It looks like a Heroic deck will be limited to W/R, and the other colors are just added value. That being said, there is plenty of spells to activate them.
Mistcutter Hydra, Curse of the Swine, Gift of Immortality, Nighthowler will not see standard play and I'm "fairly positive" about that :> unless you count fun decks. And let's say lands will see play ONLY because there are no other options besides gates, it's bad or worse when it comes to manabase.
You, and all the THS fanboys, need to understand that 33% of the cards you just wrote down should be uncommon, and the rest can't compete with let say RTR rares.
That's the truth, and if they made this set wile thinking about modern, than God help us when they will make a set thinking about standard.
Could people please stop using fanboy as a derogatory term? I was pointing out the ridiculousness of the statement that this set contained only 5-10 cards for constructed. Thanks you for reducing my 25-rares list to 21. It still does not contain the constructed-playable mythics, uncommons and commons, and it still counts way more than 5-10 cards.
Also, while you can debate about which cards should or should not be uncommon, that still doesn't lower the amount of constructed worthy cards!
There are mods here that can tell him that...
Also we got a 2 cmc arbor dryad now that untaps any land
Give irony and sarcasm, when ignorance and stupidity is found.
The whip is kept for special occasions
They really let the ship sail on Instants and Sorceries. There was always something in previous blocks, I don't remember particular sets, that I loved in the Instants/Sorceries. Recurring Insight, Eye of the Storm, Firemind's Foresight... not all cards that were good, but cards that did a thing. Past in Flames? Everyone wanted Past in Flames! It didn't matter what rarity it was printed at, or how much it cost, the players just wanted it... and they got it. Where are the flagship, casual-or-competitive, Sorceries and Instants in Theros? I can't remember one off-hand.
Common has been an absolutely destitute rarity from my first impressions, and uncommon is a similar wasteland pockmarked by the occasional pushed value card. If anything, I think what I love most are all of the cheap, do-little, "draw a card when ETB" auras we ended up getting. That kind of, slap a bunch of cantrips down, maybe get some Heroic triggers, then play some larger spells... that sounds like fun, yeah. I like that kind of play.
But for the most part, I'm just not happy with anything except the art, because even the flavor is weak on many of these cards. There are very few Hundred-Handed Ones overall. Too much of the flavor is tied to the Theros-specific gods and locations, instead of hanging off of some larger archetype or concept. Okay, we got Heroes and Gods and Monsters... but how many of them resonate with something larger than the Theros mythology?
At the end of the day, it's a small-world set where the mechanics I like most out of it are Scry 1 and the very short list of devotion-matters cards. Truly disappointed here.
Except Gainsayis actually a reprint, so your hate is readressed to Planeshift set.
I'm tired of WoTC systemathicaly ****ting on BR, once and again and again as if neither color desserves to be more than splash sideboard padding and a cheap FNM skill tester while their favorite colors UW keep on raking the leadership of metagame after metagame.
Thoughtseize.
WotC, please hire me already.
Every color got some nice stuff, though the strictly (way) worse vampire nighthawk did really bug me. To be fair, vampire nighthawk was too good, but I don't think it needed to be hammered down to limited fodder status.
As far as color favoritism, I actually felt like white got the weakest cards in Theros. That's just a first impression though, so we'll see.
Was really sad to see no black sweeper though...was really hoping for even a simple Infest reprint.
Curse of the Swine
Swan Song
Dark Betrayal
Hero's Downfall
Read the Bones
Rescue from the Underworld
Anger of the Gods
Magma Jet
Time to Feed (bonus inclusion due the amazing flavor)
Warrior's Lesson
Psychic Intrusion
Steam Augury
WotC, please hire me already.
I don't understand how a single card with an offcolor activation creates this 'clear favouritism', but there's Scholar of Athreos for BW. Each color has 2 such cards and all combinations are represented.
Vampire Nighthawk wasn't too good, it's a strong card that has always been kept in check by strong removal and other strong creatures. That's the mentality that leaves us playing standard enviroments with only two decks because everything but the "mistakes" completely sucks.
It wouldn't even be too strong on Theros with Last Breath, Lightning Strike, Abrupt Decay, Azorius Charm, Orzhov Charm, Mizzium Mortars, Ultimate Price and Cyclonic Rift in the same standard.
To be fair, it is a Greco-Roman set. Equal representation, bud.
WG Saffi Eriksdotter Combo GW
WU Rasputin Dreamweaver Storm UW
UGLorescale CoatlGU (Pauper)
Someone Prescient is not inherently Prognostic.
Prognostic implies prediction, which is an action made. Whereas Prescience is simply an implication of knowing, but not one of conveying or acting on that information in regard to others.
It's like being buoyant versus swimming.
I know that they have been ambiguous about whether or not we should think of this as an 'enchantment set/block', but I am extremely disappointed that there are no plain enchantments and only auras and enchantment creatures in their place. The artifacts seem mostly pointless. The lands are underwhelming. Nothing jumps out at me as a particularly fun or exciting combo piece. For a set with so much flavor to it, I don't get how it comes out feeling so bland and boring.
This particular Johnny is very, very sad right now...
Anyone surprised with Burnished Hart?
double ramp in colorless??
yeah it needs 2 turns, but it's colorless! all colors, seems like a really strong off color effect
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Είμαι Άνεργος.
Grimstringer on Cockatrice, add me if you wanna
By that logic, a 10/1 for 2 mana should be fine because it dies to almost every removal right?
Just because a card isn't totally format warping or game breaking doesn't mean it's not too good. In my opinion, Vampire Nighthawk did just a little too much for its cost.
Vampire doesn't win in two turns, he's neither opressive or even featured as the top creature in his color during his existance in standard (Gatekeeper, Grave Titan, Geralf's Messenger, Falkenrath Aristocrat, all better), he is good, not too good at all, not undercosted or pushed and I'm sure you would be defending him if he was in any other color.
I bet you people would bend over backwards if cards of such power as Nantuko Shade, Graveborn Muse, Stronghold Assasin and the nightmares ever happened to share a standard again.
Oh, and this guy can be fetched with Eye of Ugin (though he won't get costed down by it). Definitely will test this guy out - will have to see if he makes the cut. He should survive most artifact removal with indestructibility - but there's definitely some give/take with this guy in Tron.
Yes - it's the same card that interacts with all the creatures in Tron already and is particularly fond of Wurmcoil Engine. That one card does not change the viability of this since it impact pretty much any creature I could throw out there except for Emrakul (which will never come out of the deck).
Got to say, that is one of the most ridiculous statements I have seen this spoiler season. 5-10 cards? You sir, are way, way, waaaaay too pessimistic.
Chained to the Rocks
Fabled Hero
Gift of Immortality
Soldier of the Pantheon
Curse of the Swine
Swan Song
Agent of the Fates
Hero's Downfall
Nighthowler
*Thoughtseize
Whip of Erebos
Anger of the Gods
Ember Swallower
Mistcutter Hydra
Reverent Hunter
Sylvan Caryatid
Anax and Cymede
Fleecemane Lion
Reaper of the Wilds
Steam Augury
Temple of Abandon
Temple of Deceit
Temple of Mystery
Temple of Silence
Temple of Triumph
25 rares of which I am fairly positive they will see some play in constructed. I didn't include any mythics, uncs or commons here either, and there are always cards that turn out way better than you expected. Some of the other weapons, the red 2/1 one-drop, Boon Satyr, Prophet of Kruphix, etc. might all see play. Given that there are 5 rare lands, stating there are only 5-10 constructed worthy cards was a pretty bad prediction to start with
Actually, I plan on playing black when Theros hits, and would love to be able to run this guy. You make good points though, and perhaps he isn't too strong. It's just the sort of card that screams "obviously pushed" to me.
It says something when the most exciting card in a set is a reprint from another set.
(Thoughtseize)
Just L O L here! The 5-10 Standard cards is just laughable. At least 5 of the Mythics will see play. Also way to go out on a limb saying Gainsay won't see any play. I mean it hasn't seen play since its originally printed in Planeshift. I don't understand your gripe about being "unimaginative and pointless". The white card of that cycle will see Standard SB play. Peak Eruption could see play if Chained to the Rocks is played a lot.
Heroic will be fine. It looks like a Heroic deck will be limited to W/R, and the other colors are just added value. That being said, there is plenty of spells to activate them.
Standard
W.I.P.
EDH
WNorn Tokens
Could people please stop using fanboy as a derogatory term? I was pointing out the ridiculousness of the statement that this set contained only 5-10 cards for constructed. Thanks you for reducing my 25-rares list to 21. It still does not contain the constructed-playable mythics, uncommons and commons, and it still counts way more than 5-10 cards.
Also, while you can debate about which cards should or should not be uncommon, that still doesn't lower the amount of constructed worthy cards!
(Edit: whether should be while)