Vicious offering is the only interesting card from this batch. Well, flame of keld is kinda interesting too, though we already knew about it. Anyhow, offering might be decent if a good shell to support it pops up, but overall feels a bit mediocre. If it was just B, as a strictly better disfigure, then we would be talking.
All other kicker costs feel ridiculously expensive. Ruinous blast would be pretty interesting at 2WW.
Would you like to read Commander stories? Check my latest stories, coming from Lorwyn and Innistrad: Ghoulcaller Gisa and Doran, The Siege Tower! If you like my writing, ask me to write something for your commander as well!
Board wipes have been five in standard for awhile. It's cost is fine and the W makes this castable for some WX legends matters deck that comes up. BW legends with that Vampire that boosts other legendary creatures +2/+2?
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"The essence of every world, every spell and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
So, sagas are not a "rare and above only" thing, good.
The legend frame is... not really a frame, just a more highlighted header - it's noticeable but subtle, not what I expected, but I think I like it.
Changing the color scheme of the set symbol for commons from mostly black to mostly white seems pretty bad in terms of distinguishing them from the silver of uncommons. I don't get their motivation here :/
Also, the collector number and the fact we're only shown the promo version heavily indicate that Firesong and Sunspeaker is indeed ONLY available as buy-a-box promo... This creates a special rarity that depends on access to an LGS that actually gives them out as intended - WHY?
Don't know what above posters are talking about, those kicker cards are super good! 3CMC 2/2 flyer is a good limited card, and in the late game it's just bigger! These cards are good on the front end with added benefit in the late game. Vicious offering is good early game removal which turns into Bone Splinters.
Looking forward to Urza's Ruinous Blast. That's fun to build around!
Don't know what above posters are talking about, those kicker cards are super good!
Let me help you: above posters don't care about limited and evaluate cards by their impact in constructed. There.
The only overcosted kicker spell that might see some play here is saproling migration if some weird token deck appears, which I'm not sure it will. The drake is complete fodder and compare keldon overseeer with ahn-crop crasher. Of course, these are all common spells, so I'm not that bothered by their unplayability.
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.
Would you like to read Commander stories? Check my latest stories, coming from Lorwyn and Innistrad: Ghoulcaller Gisa and Doran, The Siege Tower! If you like my writing, ask me to write something for your commander as well!
"Hexproof from black"? They did say they'll use Protection when it's applicable, but something tells me those days are numbered as well, at least for Standard sets. Hexproof essentially protects from non-combat damage and auras that aren't from its controller. It doesn't protect from combat damage nor prevents blocking like Protection does, but considering how much they favor combat nowadays, that seems more like a benefit to them (we lost landwalk and intimidate precisely because of the blocking issue as a reminder).
On the other hand, by having hexproof replace protection it might mean they're scaling down the usage of "hexproof" (I mean alone), since that means "hexproof from everything" (I now imagine if Progenitus just has "Protection" in its card text...), which is a good thing, considering hexproof is one of the most annoying abilities to exist (1-sided interactivity) and narrowing it down to Protection-narrowness might be a good solution for it...
Also, in case people didn't read the article, pre-orders can be picked up on Pre-release dates instead for Dominaria (and probably so on until another policy change) but is subject to stock availability of the LGS. Buy-a-Box promo also confirmed to be exclusive and not available anywhere else (packs included)... and they're trying a new format called "Brawl", which bluntly put is "Standard EDH" and as a regular EDH player I can confidently tell you now it's not going to be a success (so many times people tried that with the Modern cardpool and well we don't see anything particularly popular rise out of those attempts). Okay, maybe if they heavily streamline it with duel EDH conceptualization in mind it can be somewhat successful (they do have the power of making such a format tournament-level as well) since they don't really have a banlist to worry about, but at the same time the cardpool is that small comparatively it's going to be a really hard-sell to old grouchy EDH players like me, although singleton being cheaper than playsets it might invoke interest in newer players (I've seen the sheer size of EDH scare players off). Depending on how well they structure and market the thing it might catch on with the Standard crowd, but no way in oblivion it's going to convince that many current/older EDH players to play Standard EDH, especially multiplayer ones (mainly because multiplayer is pretty much an unfixable problem for competitive).
Call me a jaded old man for denouncing something which hasn't even technically been officially announced, but just from anecdotal evidence (and past experiences with variant formats attempts within EDH), I cannot really see this being too big a success (or even remotely successful if I go full-jaded...)
The saproling kicker spell actually isn't that bad, sorcery-speed Raise the Alarms can be playable in constructed depending on what extra utility they offer. Servo Exhibition had the upside of producing artifact tokens (the same thing that made Master's Call cost 1 more). This one offers scalability for the late game and a (semi-)relevant ceature type, considering that there's a "saproling lord" in the set, albeit in the form of a fungus. Depending on how much support and other options there are, I could imaginge wanting to play Saproling Migration and Vicious Offering in the same deck.
I'll be testing flame of keld in my 8 whack deck. It seems to me that it COULD help, but if not, it's just an uncommon and probably won't hurt so bad financially if it doesn't work out.
The Flame of Keld looks like a great card for mono red aggro to play alongside a cheap threat on turns four or five. It does everything you want to do in an aggro deck, refuels your and gives you reach.
Saproling Migration is a neat little spell and really makes me feel like Saprolings could at least work out as a cute budget deck.
All this art in this set is absolutely phenomenal.
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"Pop in, find a dragon, roast a dragon."
-Chandra Nalaar
Also, the collector number and the fact we're only shown the promo version heavily indicate that Firesong and Sunspeaker is indeed ONLY available as buy-a-box promo... This creates a special rarity that depends on access to an LGS that actually gives them out as intended - WHY?
Seriously, wasn't there an uproar way back in the game's infancy over Nalathni Dragon being a convention exclusive? I thought "don't make cards that are only available as limited-time promos" was one of the first lessons WotC learned.
Changing the color scheme of the set symbol for commons from mostly black to mostly white seems pretty bad in terms of distinguishing them from the silver of uncommons. I don't get their motivation here :/
Agreed. They actually used to have white common symbols and fortunately changed them. My assumption from another thread is that it's easier to design them if all rarity symbols are dark outline with bright interior (well, that's a fact more than an assumption, but the assumtion is that the benefits of this consistency are part of the reason for the change).
I hope this is something they plan to comment on and not another of those changes that they just assume is not going to matter to anyone like the inability to properly read cards. -.-"
---
The BAB promo thing is a disgrace. The distribution of promotional material has been notoriously iffy and this will just create a gap. It's one of the things other TCGs/CCGs do/used to do that I have been happy to not be confronted with in MtG.
"Hexproof from black"? They did say they'll use Protection when it's applicable, but something tells me those days are numbered as well, at least for Standard sets. Hexproof essentially protects from non-combat damage and auras that aren't from its controller. It doesn't protect from combat damage nor prevents blocking like Protection does, but considering how much they favor combat nowadays, that seems more like a benefit to them (we lost landwalk and intimidate precisely because of the blocking issue as a reminder).
They got rid of all of those things primarily because Wizards has grown to disfavor specific color-hosing. Protection was targeted towards a specific color for nearly all of its history (with limited exceptions). As such, playing a creature with "protection from X color" would hose an opponent playing a mono-X color deck.
Similarly, with intimidate and landwalk, depending on whether you were playing a specific color, your matchups against cards with such keywords could wildly change the outcome of the match.
That being said, it's odd that they introduce a color-specific hexproof, but my feeling is that they thought the nostalgia of having spiritual successors to the White and Black Knights of old trumped the deviation from current design philosophy.
From Vorthosian point of view, Urza's Ruinous Blast is messed up.
The Sylex Blast was what caused Urza's spark to ignite. He was an old man, well to his sixties, and looked like this: Retaliation. But here he is depicted in the very appearance he preferred 4500 years after, during the Invasion, complete with the white hair, goatee, big yellow clasp and violet cloak. But yet, there is the Golgothian Sylex hovering left, and the original, three-pronged staff from Saga period on the right, not the latter, simpler one. So it is weird and wrong mix of two different time periods.
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100% Vorthos Spike and Storyline Expert
Former Fact Prospector of the Greek Alliance.
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
Alright. Having seen two Sagas now I can say that I’m not a fan of the look. I like the mechanic but it looks too much like a reminder card. I want more focus on the art of these cards, definitely not less.
I’m also not a fan of the Legendary card frame. But mostly, I just don’t know why this needed to happen. Sometime too many changes at once isn’t a good thing. For me, I really dislike all the aesthetic changes Wizards is making lately.
From the MTG logo, the Jace font, the border/holo Change in origins (?), all these new frames for every kind of card and now the Sagas...It’s too much for me. This is all personal opinion but I just don’t care for it and I don’t think it’s what the game needs to stay “fresh”
From Vorthosian point of view, Urza's Ruinous Blast is messed up.
Like our own understanding of real-life legends, I suspect that Dominarians' knowledge of Urza / his exploits / his appearance isn't entirely factual and probably sticks to one perspective and look.
All other kicker costs feel ridiculously expensive. Ruinous blast would be pretty interesting at 2WW.
Read my other stories as well (some ongoing):
Reaper King (a horror story), Kaalia of the Vast (an origin story), Sequels for Innistrad (Alternative sequels for Inn), Grey Areas (Odric's fanfic), Royal Succession (goblins),The Tracker's Message (eldrazi on Innistrad) and Ugin and his Eye (the end of OGW).
The legend frame is... not really a frame, just a more highlighted header - it's noticeable but subtle, not what I expected, but I think I like it.
Changing the color scheme of the set symbol for commons from mostly black to mostly white seems pretty bad in terms of distinguishing them from the silver of uncommons. I don't get their motivation here :/
Also, the collector number and the fact we're only shown the promo version heavily indicate that Firesong and Sunspeaker is indeed ONLY available as buy-a-box promo... This creates a special rarity that depends on access to an LGS that actually gives them out as intended - WHY?
W(W/U)U Ephara - Flash & Taxes W(W/U)U || B(B/G)G Meren - Circle of Life B(B/G)G
RGW Marath - Ever shifting Wilds RGW || (U/R)C(W/B) Breya - Artificial Dominion (U/R)C(W/B)
UBR Becket Brass - take what you can, give nothing back UBR
Looking forward to Urza's Ruinous Blast. That's fun to build around!
8.RG Green Devotion Ramp/Combo 9.UR Draw Triggers 10.WUR Group stalling 11.WUR Voltron Spellslinger 12.WB Sacrificial Shenanigans
13.BR Creatureless Panharmonicon 14.BR Pingers and Eldrazi 15.URG Untapped Cascading
16.Reyhan, last of the Abzan's WUBG +1/+1 Counter Craziness 17.WUBRG Dragons aka Why did I make this?
Building: The Gitrog Monster lands, Glissa the Traitor stax, Muldrotha, the Gravetide Planeswalker Combo, Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix + Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa Clues, and Tribal Scarecrow Planeswalkers
The only overcosted kicker spell that might see some play here is saproling migration if some weird token deck appears, which I'm not sure it will. The drake is complete fodder and compare keldon overseeer with ahn-crop crasher. Of course, these are all common spells, so I'm not that bothered by their unplayability.
Read my other stories as well (some ongoing):
Reaper King (a horror story), Kaalia of the Vast (an origin story), Sequels for Innistrad (Alternative sequels for Inn), Grey Areas (Odric's fanfic), Royal Succession (goblins),The Tracker's Message (eldrazi on Innistrad) and Ugin and his Eye (the end of OGW).
Spirits
(W/U)(B/R)GForm of Progenitus, Shape of a Scrubland
BRGJund Tokens with Prossh, the Magic Dragon Foil
URGAnimar, the RUG CleanerFoil
RRRFeldon of the Third Path 2.0 Foil
BG(B/G)Not Another Meren DeckFoil
UR(U/R)Mizzix, Y Control and X Burn Spells
(W/U)(B/R)GHarold Ramos - The 35 Foot Long Twinkie (In +1/+1 counters)
UB(U/B)Dragonlord Silumgar
On the other hand, by having hexproof replace protection it might mean they're scaling down the usage of "hexproof" (I mean alone), since that means "hexproof from everything" (I now imagine if Progenitus just has "Protection" in its card text...), which is a good thing, considering hexproof is one of the most annoying abilities to exist (1-sided interactivity) and narrowing it down to Protection-narrowness might be a good solution for it...
Also, in case people didn't read the article, pre-orders can be picked up on Pre-release dates instead for Dominaria (and probably so on until another policy change) but is subject to stock availability of the LGS. Buy-a-Box promo also confirmed to be exclusive and not available anywhere else (packs included)... and they're trying a new format called "Brawl", which bluntly put is "Standard EDH" and as a regular EDH player I can confidently tell you now it's not going to be a success (so many times people tried that with the Modern cardpool and well we don't see anything particularly popular rise out of those attempts). Okay, maybe if they heavily streamline it with duel EDH conceptualization in mind it can be somewhat successful (they do have the power of making such a format tournament-level as well) since they don't really have a banlist to worry about, but at the same time the cardpool is that small comparatively it's going to be a really hard-sell to old grouchy EDH players like me, although singleton being cheaper than playsets it might invoke interest in newer players (I've seen the sheer size of EDH scare players off). Depending on how well they structure and market the thing it might catch on with the Standard crowd, but no way in oblivion it's going to convince that many current/older EDH players to play Standard EDH, especially multiplayer ones (mainly because multiplayer is pretty much an unfixable problem for competitive).
Call me a jaded old man for denouncing something which hasn't even technically been officially announced, but just from anecdotal evidence (and past experiences with variant formats attempts within EDH), I cannot really see this being too big a success (or even remotely successful if I go full-jaded...)
Saproling Migration is a neat little spell and really makes me feel like Saprolings could at least work out as a cute budget deck.
All this art in this set is absolutely phenomenal.
-Chandra Nalaar
Modern Tallowisp Spirits - A Modern Tallowisp Deck UW
Eldrazi Ninjas - Summoning Octopus Jutsu YYYYAAAHHHH!
STANDARD
Naban Wizards
I mean, it's better than Wind Drake, but "better than Wind Drake" has only ever excited limited players.
EDIT:
It was already confirmed as "uncommon and above" IIRC.
Agreed. They actually used to have white common symbols and fortunately changed them. My assumption from another thread is that it's easier to design them if all rarity symbols are dark outline with bright interior (well, that's a fact more than an assumption, but the assumtion is that the benefits of this consistency are part of the reason for the change).
I hope this is something they plan to comment on and not another of those changes that they just assume is not going to matter to anyone like the inability to properly read cards. -.-"
---
The BAB promo thing is a disgrace. The distribution of promotional material has been notoriously iffy and this will just create a gap. It's one of the things other TCGs/CCGs do/used to do that I have been happy to not be confronted with in MtG.
Finally a good white villain quote: "So, do I ever re-evaluate my life choices? Never, because I know what I'm doing is a righteous cause."
Factions: Sleeping
Remnants: Valheim
Legendary Journey: Heroes & Planeswalkers
Saga: Shards of Rabiah
Legends: The Elder Dragons
Read up on Red Flags & NWO
GWUBRDraft my Old Border Nostalgia Cube! and/or The Little Pauper Cube That Could!RBUWG
Modern:WDeath & TaxesW | RUGRUG DelverRUG
They got rid of all of those things primarily because Wizards has grown to disfavor specific color-hosing. Protection was targeted towards a specific color for nearly all of its history (with limited exceptions). As such, playing a creature with "protection from X color" would hose an opponent playing a mono-X color deck.
Similarly, with intimidate and landwalk, depending on whether you were playing a specific color, your matchups against cards with such keywords could wildly change the outcome of the match.
That being said, it's odd that they introduce a color-specific hexproof, but my feeling is that they thought the nostalgia of having spiritual successors to the White and Black Knights of old trumped the deviation from current design philosophy.
The Sylex Blast was what caused Urza's spark to ignite. He was an old man, well to his sixties, and looked like this: Retaliation. But here he is depicted in the very appearance he preferred 4500 years after, during the Invasion, complete with the white hair, goatee, big yellow clasp and violet cloak. But yet, there is the Golgothian Sylex hovering left, and the original, three-pronged staff from Saga period on the right, not the latter, simpler one. So it is weird and wrong mix of two different time periods.
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
I’m also not a fan of the Legendary card frame. But mostly, I just don’t know why this needed to happen. Sometime too many changes at once isn’t a good thing. For me, I really dislike all the aesthetic changes Wizards is making lately.
From the MTG logo, the Jace font, the border/holo Change in origins (?), all these new frames for every kind of card and now the Sagas...It’s too much for me. This is all personal opinion but I just don’t care for it and I don’t think it’s what the game needs to stay “fresh”
Finally a good white villain quote: "So, do I ever re-evaluate my life choices? Never, because I know what I'm doing is a righteous cause."
Factions: Sleeping
Remnants: Valheim
Legendary Journey: Heroes & Planeswalkers
Saga: Shards of Rabiah
Legends: The Elder Dragons
Read up on Red Flags & NWO