Oi, I think the combined factors of having to switch to two-set block mid-development and including those dumb expedition lands to answer all the beggars left us with a really lackluster first set (with just a few eldrazi and planeswalkers as nuggets of "oo powerful"). Honestly, hoping that commons save the set says a lot.
Aside from that, Angelic Captain is kind of cool for those colors.
I feel like the blue retreat is pretty strong. Thassa taught me that Scry 1 every turn is very potent. Add to that the versitility of the tap/untap ability to tap down opposing creatures or untap mana producers/hangarback walkers/jace/anything else. I mean, for what its worth, shaman of forgotten ways + retreat + fetchland produces 6 by itself. Even just a Rattleclaw puts you at 7 mana T4. In the situations where you don't need the extra mana ramp, you can crack the fetch on the opponents turn to tap their largest threat. I dunno...Maybe the cmc is too much but it feels like it could do an awful lot of work.
Retreat to Coralhelm WILL be played along Knight of the reliquary for a two card game winning combo.
T1: land, dork
T2: land, Knight of the reliquary
T3: Retreat to Coralhelm, win.
Very interesting.
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Playing since 1994: Currently MAGS (HomeBrew),Standard & Pauper (Pioneer and Modern are degenerate trash formats)
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So, evidently Ugin's Insight is this set's Dig Through Time: an obviously powerful draw spell that everybody will dismiss at first because no one will have that many cards to delve it efficiently it's a sorcery.
Come on, people. This is practically Demonic Tutor x 3, in blue. You're seriously going to call it junk?
It's only "Demonic Tutor x3" when you don't really need it...
well, it only has that Scry 10 if you're already running Ulamog... by that time you should already be winning either way.
but, yeah, it's very powerful, it costs an entire turn, it's better when you're already winning...
I'm not really sure it will be the next Dig through time and right now I'll bet it won't.
you need something CMC 5+ in the battlefield for the power of this draw to rival Dig through time....
and DTT can be cast at EOT after not really spending your entire turn without affecting the board.
They're different animals for sure...
but well, we've seen lots of Treasure Cruises being cast at the expense of entire turns.
Wow, they managed to drop the slack yet again, just when I thought it couldn't be worse. Why is a Skinrender that requires you to jump through hoops, doesn't make a creature permanently smaller and that has 1 toughness less a rare now? And please don't tell me that it's because it costs B less.
Um. It's because it costs B less.
A 3/2 for 3 that requires minimal setup to always be a two-for-one is really, really good. It can be hit with Collected Company, curves right off of Transgress the Mind, satisfies the vanilla test if not exactly breaking it, is splashable... etc. It's a great card. In this format, it's stronger than Skinrender, which was already great.
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Also random inquiry but I thought Zendikar angels' halos were supposed to have shattered/gone away from their eyes when RoE happened? Guess they decided to just keep it since it looks cool..
DTT is an instant speed, draw a new hand get the best of 2. Sure sometimes you brick, but at least it gives me an option to do something at the end of my opponents turn and come up with an answer to a permanent that needs answering!
The new draw spell Ugin's Insight might not be that hard to trigger, U/B/x's dragons are 5-6 CMC each, the issue is leaving up mana to counter things. 5 cmc is a lot for a sorcery speed draw spell that basically forces you to tap out. You'll need 7-8 lands in play to be safe and have a board position that doesn't blow you out of the water to cast this. Ahem, if you're only card on the board is a flipped jace you scry nothing...:o Ingenuity was more flexible and end of turn draw 3 was pretty good. DTT is just...it's just good. This is...not a DTT. Maybe 1 of or 2 of in a control deck? Thinking about when this will be cast it has to be with 2-3 mana open. ehhh...
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Standard Arena: Eh? Gruul or Die
Modern: Decks I'm playing right now: G Mono Green Tron (34-10-3 paper record, only SCG/Regionals/PPTQ record) C Eldrazi Tron (9-5) UG Infect RW Burn
Really bummed that the first angel spoiled is so mediocre. I don't even want to play that in Magic Duels, and that's a format where even cards like Nimbus Wings and Gatecreeper Vine are strong enough to see play...
DTT is an instant speed, draw a new hand get the best of 2. Sure sometimes you brick, but at least it gives me an option to do something at the end of my opponents turn and come up with an answer to a permanent that needs answering!
The new draw spell Ugin's Insight might not be that hard to trigger, U/B/x's dragons are 5-6 CMC each, the issue is leaving up mana to counter things. 5 cmc is a lot for a sorcery speed draw spell that basically forces you to tap out. You'll need 7-8 lands in play to be safe and have a board position that doesn't blow you out of the water to cast this. Ahem, if you're only card on the board is a flipped jace you scry nothing...:o Ingenuity was more flexible and end of turn draw 3 was pretty good. DTT is just...it's just good. This is...not a DTT. Maybe 1 of or 2 of in a control deck? Thinking about when this will be cast it has to be with 2-3 mana open. ehhh...
These new retreats make me sad when compared to like white. Like how does white give all your creatures +1/+1 but red only give 1 +2/0? And blue... while repeated scry is nice it feels somwhat anti-synergistic with itself since by the time you get it going you most likely will be scrying most lands to the bottom
Wow, they managed to drop the slack yet again, just when I thought it couldn't be worse. Why is a Skinrender that requires you to jump through hoops, doesn't make a creature permanently smaller and that has 1 toughness less a rare now? And please don't tell me that it's because it costs B less.
Um. It's because it costs B less.
A 3/2 for 3 that requires minimal setup to always be a two-for-one is really, really good. It can be hit with Collected Company, curves right off of Transgress the Mind, satisfies the vanilla test if not exactly breaking it, is splashable... etc. It's a great card. In this format, it's stronger than Skinrender, which was already great.
It costs B less because it's smaller, you have to jump through hoops, and you can't permanently reduce a creature with it. Skinrender required no setup at all. Transgress the Mind is not very playable in Limited and definitely not Maindeck material in Constructed. Also it can't be better than Skinrender in any format since Skinrender reduced a 6/6 to a 3/3 for you permanently and played well with Proliferate in it's own set. The only points you got going for it is it's splashability and that it can be hit by CoCo.
Again, all of this doesn't matter since it's on similar power level than Skinrender, if not less, and rarities are based upon Limited. How can a creature that is worse than Skinrender in terms of taking big creatures be rare in a format so filled with creatures with 6+ power and toughness?
The Angel is a very disappointing preview, because it means there will be no 5-color Legendary Ally (The only remaining slot is Devoid slot, and we're missing a RG rare) in this set. I wasn't expecting the angel since I thought Munda, Ambush Leader was the RW rare (Which means he's now "an excess rare" and therefore "the "Leader" Legendary Ally" as he's not part of the cycle, unlike the Merfolk Legendary).
Wow, they managed to drop the slack yet again, just when I thought it couldn't be worse. Why is a Skinrender that requires you to jump through hoops, doesn't make a creature permanently smaller and that has 1 toughness less a rare now? And please don't tell me that it's because it costs B less.
Um. It's because it costs B less.
A 3/2 for 3 that requires minimal setup to always be a two-for-one is really, really good. It can be hit with Collected Company, curves right off of Transgress the Mind, satisfies the vanilla test if not exactly breaking it, is splashable... etc. It's a great card. In this format, it's stronger than Skinrender, which was already great.
It costs B less because it's smaller, you have to jump through hoops, and you can't permanently reduce a creature with it. Skinrender required no setup at all. Transgress the Mind is not very playable in Limited and definitely not Maindeck material in Constructed. Also it can't be better than Skinrender in any format since Skinrender reduced a 6/6 to a 3/3 for you permanently and played well with Proliferate in it's own set. The only points you got going for it is it's splashability and that it can be hit by CoCo.
Again, all of this doesn't matter since it's on similar power level than Skinrender, if not less, and rarities are based upon Limited. How can a creature that is worse than Skinrender in terms of taking big creatures be rare in a format so filled with creatures with 6+ power and toughness?
How often is -3/-3 really that much worse than three -1/-1 counters? Sure, you can shrink a big creature permanently, but dropping your opponent's Void Winnower down to an 8/6 isn't really that big a deal. I'm seeing ally creatures that both Skinrender and this can kill, and Eldrazi that neither creature can dent.
Transgress is probably not Limited playable, no. I was referring to Constructed. In Limited, take your pick from any number of playable Ingest creatures instead. In Constructed, Strangler is a major bonus to Transgress's power level, possibly bumping it into Constructed territory for a dedicated Ingest/Processor deck, should such a thing be competitive. BG Ingest/CoCo wants Strangler badly.
Skinrender was extremely strong in Limited, from what I know (I wasn't actively playing during Scars, so I've only seen it in action in Cube). It's very possible that the powers that be simply wanted such an effect to be less prevalent in Limited. It's still a good card.
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Ugin's Insight is solid.
Sorcery speed hurts, but imagine Scrying 8 with an Ugin on the board
hahah, I love that smiley face. And it couln't be more fitting.
retreat cycle is great indeed. That eldrazi processor saddens me because it is an ETB trigger and not on cast... Plus I have when one time effects on creature are at rare.
No wonder they concocted up "Expidition" chase cards to sell this set.
What the heck are you talking about? You make no sense. They designed the cards. If the wanted to make them "good" they could have. You say this as if the card design process is throwing stuff on the ground and hoping it collects into a decent card. They don't need to make "expeditions" for anything. It is their choice. They decided to make the cards like they have. It wasn't an accident. Please look at what you are saying its just nonsensical.
Ugin's Insight reminds me a little of Interpret the Signs, although in many ways I consider it superior (but Interpret has ways it could be the better card). Really neat and I love the flavor text and effect - they came as 3, so you draw 3 cards with plans in anticipation of all the titans.
Retreat to Coralhelm - the art reminds me of Unknown Shores, which of course is a great thing. I love this card, I'll use it in my Sea Monster EDH for theme. I scry a lot with Thassa already though, and I kind of hate that whole tap/untap creature thing Blue has in this set, so I'll always choose even MORE scry. But hey, gotta get to the Quest for Ula's Temple sooner anyway. So by all means.
The entire set is incredibly boring (for an Eldrazi set) outside of man-lands, new duals, and expeditions. But those three alone make the set a smashing hit... ...still this could have been the best set of all time, oh well.
It's an instant speed 5/5 trampler for 4. Wtf do you people want seriously? It has applications in populate/ above the curve beats decks, or in Bant control/ flash. I seriously think anyone mad at this card for any reason other than losing an attacker to instant speed wurm, should go home and make their own awesome card game and leave the rest of us alone.
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Aside from that, Angelic Captain is kind of cool for those colors.
Very interesting.
STOP using "dude/bro" as a pejorative or insult. Grow up.
Margaret Thatcher: “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.”
Benjamin Franklin: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
Martin Luther King Jr.: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
It's only "Demonic Tutor x3" when you don't really need it...
well, it only has that Scry 10 if you're already running Ulamog... by that time you should already be winning either way.
but, yeah, it's very powerful, it costs an entire turn, it's better when you're already winning...
I'm not really sure it will be the next Dig through time and right now I'll bet it won't.
you need something CMC 5+ in the battlefield for the power of this draw to rival Dig through time....
and DTT can be cast at EOT after not really spending your entire turn without affecting the board.
They're different animals for sure...
but well, we've seen lots of Treasure Cruises being cast at the expense of entire turns.
Um. It's because it costs B less.
A 3/2 for 3 that requires minimal setup to always be a two-for-one is really, really good. It can be hit with Collected Company, curves right off of Transgress the Mind, satisfies the vanilla test if not exactly breaking it, is splashable... etc. It's a great card. In this format, it's stronger than Skinrender, which was already great.
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Seems considerably worse since your opponent can blow up your expensive permanent(s) and leave you with nothing instead of still a draw-3.
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The new draw spell Ugin's Insight might not be that hard to trigger, U/B/x's dragons are 5-6 CMC each, the issue is leaving up mana to counter things. 5 cmc is a lot for a sorcery speed draw spell that basically forces you to tap out. You'll need 7-8 lands in play to be safe and have a board position that doesn't blow you out of the water to cast this. Ahem, if you're only card on the board is a flipped jace you scry nothing...:o Ingenuity was more flexible and end of turn draw 3 was pretty good. DTT is just...it's just good. This is...not a DTT. Maybe 1 of or 2 of in a control deck? Thinking about when this will be cast it has to be with 2-3 mana open. ehhh...
Modern: Decks I'm playing right now:
G Mono Green Tron (34-10-3 paper record, only SCG/Regionals/PPTQ record)
C Eldrazi Tron (9-5)
UG Infect
RW Burn
Overall this looks like a great bunch of limited cards. A couple might even find there way to constructed.
With Dig Through Time, Dragonlord's Prerogative, Treasure Cruise, and Painful Truth around, I don't ever expect to cast this thing in constructed.
I'll draft the hell out of it though.
UR Blue-Red Control
Modern:
UBR Grixis Control
UWR Jeskai Control
It costs B less because it's smaller, you have to jump through hoops, and you can't permanently reduce a creature with it. Skinrender required no setup at all. Transgress the Mind is not very playable in Limited and definitely not Maindeck material in Constructed. Also it can't be better than Skinrender in any format since Skinrender reduced a 6/6 to a 3/3 for you permanently and played well with Proliferate in it's own set. The only points you got going for it is it's splashability and that it can be hit by CoCo.
Again, all of this doesn't matter since it's on similar power level than Skinrender, if not less, and rarities are based upon Limited. How can a creature that is worse than Skinrender in terms of taking big creatures be rare in a format so filled with creatures with 6+ power and toughness?
Thanks to DNC from Heroes of the Plane Studios for the sig
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why?
you play it with fetchlands.
fetch the fetchland with knight...
use landfall trigger to tap blocker, crack fetch... untap knight...
WRR
you'll be attacking with a 20/20 into a board position of tapped blockers before you know it.
you can always use Rogue's Passage and/or Sejiri Steppe as 1of in your list to be able to attack through bogles and stuff.
_______ *insert big splashy card* will be good in my Jhoira EDH deck.
Seriously though, Newlamog and Ugin's Insight have a home in Jhoira if nowhere else.
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How often is -3/-3 really that much worse than three -1/-1 counters? Sure, you can shrink a big creature permanently, but dropping your opponent's Void Winnower down to an 8/6 isn't really that big a deal. I'm seeing ally creatures that both Skinrender and this can kill, and Eldrazi that neither creature can dent.
Transgress is probably not Limited playable, no. I was referring to Constructed. In Limited, take your pick from any number of playable Ingest creatures instead. In Constructed, Strangler is a major bonus to Transgress's power level, possibly bumping it into Constructed territory for a dedicated Ingest/Processor deck, should such a thing be competitive. BG Ingest/CoCo wants Strangler badly.
Skinrender was extremely strong in Limited, from what I know (I wasn't actively playing during Scars, so I've only seen it in action in Cube). It's very possible that the powers that be simply wanted such an effect to be less prevalent in Limited. It's still a good card.
retreat cycle is great indeed. That eldrazi processor saddens me because it is an ETB trigger and not on cast... Plus I have when one time effects on creature are at rare.
What the heck are you talking about? You make no sense. They designed the cards. If the wanted to make them "good" they could have. You say this as if the card design process is throwing stuff on the ground and hoping it collects into a decent card. They don't need to make "expeditions" for anything. It is their choice. They decided to make the cards like they have. It wasn't an accident. Please look at what you are saying its just nonsensical.
Retreat to Coralhelm - the art reminds me of Unknown Shores, which of course is a great thing. I love this card, I'll use it in my Sea Monster EDH for theme. I scry a lot with Thassa already though, and I kind of hate that whole tap/untap creature thing Blue has in this set, so I'll always choose even MORE scry. But hey, gotta get to the Quest for Ula's Temple sooner anyway. So by all means.
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||
The entire set is incredibly boring (for an Eldrazi set) outside of man-lands, new duals, and expeditions. But those three alone make the set a smashing hit... ...still this could have been the best set of all time, oh well.