Not entirely on topic, but this has started to irk me.
Just because Blue has been the best color in the past, how does that relate to the present? Why wouldn't it be better to just balance the five colors, rather than make their power levels sinusoidal or some crap?
I don't really care what color is the best as there are usually skill intensive tier one decks for me to play, but when arguing what a color's power level is, referencing past years in regards to T2, is fairly silly.
I'd also rather have Condescend 90% of the time. Flashback spells aren't really tearing it up, and it does't seem like Scavenge will either.
Do you people honestly think they'll print remand in a format with snapcaster? That tempo-d counterspell is the exact thing they are building cards against in this set.
Syncopate is fine. On the second turn, if they tap out to cast something, does it really matter if they had to pay 3 extra or 1 extra? Late in the game your opponent just has to add 3 to the cost to play around ML, for Sync they have to add your potential mana pool - U to cast something, and that could be quite a tall order.
First off you have to be on the play to counter the opponents T2 drop. This goes for any counter so it's not exactly a tick in its favor as Essence Scatter can do the same thing, who is better imho since its cheaper and doesn't give them a choice to avoid it. Sure, you have Cavern of Souls, but that hoses all counter magic, and if you are playing control Izzet Charm is enough to counter instants and sorceries. Let's not forget though, there are some bomby removal spells that are uncounterable - another notch against Syncopate.
As far as your opponent having to add all your mana if they want to play something - I think they'll take that any day over any other counter magic considering you have to hold up ALL your mana if you want to do that, which means you did nothing on your turn. In a meta with aggressively costed creatures, they can afford to play them and leave a lot of mana up, or conversely, they run Sigarda, and you just frown. Either way, it's a tempo loss for you. That's a mark against it.
I don't think its going to see much play. In fact, I'd wager that Negate and Essence Scatter will see more play as while they are narrow answers, are less narrow than Syncopate due to her casting cost/ability.
Edit: In fact, if it weren't for Cavern I think a lot of people would be complaining about Essence Scatter. It works better than Mana Leak in an environment where a lot of decks are going to be running a lot of creatures, and even against other control decks who are going to run a few win-con creatures and who generally aren't going to be running Cavern of Souls (though it might be a 1 or 2 of sideboard option).
Syncopate is fine. On the second turn, if they tap out to cast something, does it really matter if they had to pay 3 extra or 1 extra? Late in the game your opponent just has to add 3 to the cost to play around ML, for Sync they have to add your potential mana pool - U to cast something, and that could be quite a tall order.
Pretty much my thoughts too. It's often Leak on turn 2-3, and still deals with late-game threats. It's almost like a modal spell split between Dissipate and Leak. And it's only that good in mana/CA-heavy decks, so it doesn't run the risk of helping to break Tempo again. And splashable and uncommon. I'm actually rather happy with it.
Now just reprint Electrolyze and a UR counter+shock (at the same time, I mean, not like Izzet Charm) and I don't even care what happens with the rest of the set.
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Playing UX Mana Denial until Modern gets the answers it needs.
WUBRG Humans BRW Mardu Pyromancer UW UW "Control" UR Blue Moon
Not entirely on topic, but this has started to irk me.
Just because Blue has been the best color in the past, how does that relate to the present? Why wouldn't it be better to just balance the five colors, rather than make their power levels sinusoidal or some crap?
I don't really care what color is the best as there are usually skill intensive tier one decks for me to play, but when arguing what a color's power level is, referencing past years in regards to T2, is fairly silly.
I'd also rather have Condescend 90% of the time. Flashback spells aren't really tearing it up, and it does't seem like Scavenge will either.
Scry is a keyword, therefor it wouldn't be reprinted in this set.
A functional reprint of sorts perhaps.
I think the biggest issue people need to realize is the reason Blue has been and will continue to be the most powerful color in the game is mainly due to card advantage. Every single competitive TCG player knows how important card advantage can be, and giving one color full access to superior drawing is what honestly does it, its the stupid little cantrips that really set them up to be so damn potent. Blue decks in the current format don't ever seem to run out of steam, even after an extensive run of turns, compared to their counterparts of any other color.
I'm not hating on blue, I play blue, I'm just saying if people want to know why they win everything THAT is why. Counterspells, while potent, don't determine the win for Blue, the inability to ever "starve" a blue player is.
So blue players whining that no good counterspell will "ruin" blue, and that it'll be the weakest color in the format this standard and yada yada need to understand WHY their color is so powerful. Its not because you're capable of telling your opponent "no", its because come turn 5-6 when they're running out of steam and playing draw go, you're still able to set up your next 3 turns and sitting on a 5 card hand. Its because when the time comes for you to make your move, you can do it with inherently less risk knowing what's coming next and that you have a nice hand incase everything goes wrong.
I'm not going to lie, Synco is not Mana Leak, Leak was amazing, but its still pretty damn good and pretty damn useful. Its a solid replacement with more late game potential than Leak had.
Also, we still haven't seen RU's uncounterable card. It might just be a cool uncounterable counterspell =P
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Scry is a keyword, therefor it wouldn't be reprinted in this set.
A functional reprint of sorts perhaps.
I think the biggest issue people need to realize is the reason Blue has been and will continue to be the most powerful color in the game is mainly due to card advantage. Every single competitive TCG player knows how important card advantage can be, and giving one color full access to superior drawing is what honestly does it, its the stupid little cantrips that really set them up to be so damn potent. Blue decks in the current format don't ever seem to run out of steam, even after an extensive run of turns, compared to their counterparts of any other color.
I'm not hating on blue, I play blue, I'm just saying if people want to know why they win everything THAT is why. Counterspells, while potent, don't determine the win for Blue, the inability to ever "starve" a blue player is.
So blue players whining that no good counterspell will "ruin" blue, and that it'll be the weakest color in the format this standard and yada yada need to understand WHY their color is so powerful. Its not because you're capable of telling your opponent "no", its because come turn 5-6 when they're running out of steam and playing draw go, you're still able to set up your next 3 turns and sitting on a 5 card hand. Its because when the time comes for you to make your move, you can do it with inherently less risk knowing what's coming next and that you have a nice hand incase everything goes wrong.
I'm not going to lie, Synco is not Mana Leak, Leak was amazing, but its still pretty damn good and pretty damn useful. Its a solid replacement with more late game potential than Leak had.
Also, we still haven't seen RU's uncounterable card. It might just be a cool uncounterable counterspell =P
This man speaks the truth, sirs.
What blue needs for being strong is cheap card draw and some survival tricks, I'm fine with Syncopate if they give us a way to build our card advantage and respond to the absurd cards aggro is getting.
The blue hate is going to far, IMO. I don't like Delver decks either, but that's not control, I don't think its fair to hate on blue because of a tempo deck.
What blue needs for being strong is cheap card draw and some survival tricks, I'm fine with Syncopate if they give us a way to build our card advantage and respond to the absurd cards aggro is getting.
The blue hate is going to far, IMO. I don't like Delver decks either, but that's not control, I don't think its fair to hate on blue because of a tempo deck.
Honestly Delver seems more straight Aggro to me most times than anything, I mean hell, look in my signature, I play Hexproof Delver Aggro.
Best play ever:
T1: Delver
T2: Reveal Ponder, Flip, play another Delver and Ponder, swing for 3
T3: Reveal Blessings of Nature, Flip, play another Delver, swing for 11
T4: Reveal Revenge of the Hunted, Flip, swing for 20 for overkill.
I realize its the luckiest draws/setups ever, but still it was funny sadly it happened right after I finished talking to the guy about how I hate playing Delver because I like my other cards to shine.
-
I was originally going to play UR in Rav but I'm going to take a shot at Rakdos this time around (I really like how they're shaping up). I'm curious to see what kinds of Izzet cantrips show up though.
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It wasn't dead over the summer... Not played by many but definately still solid. Is it dead on rotation, lets wait and see, if we get a decent black sweeper (that isn't mutilate) I could see Draw-go (with everything that implies) BUG control being a serious thing.
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I'm a control player, because I like to reserve the right to say no.
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Just because Blue has been the best color in the past, how does that relate to the present? Why wouldn't it be better to just balance the five colors, rather than make their power levels sinusoidal or some crap?
I don't really care what color is the best as there are usually skill intensive tier one decks for me to play, but when arguing what a color's power level is, referencing past years in regards to T2, is fairly silly.
I'd also rather have Condescend 90% of the time. Flashback spells aren't really tearing it up, and it does't seem like Scavenge will either.
First off you have to be on the play to counter the opponents T2 drop. This goes for any counter so it's not exactly a tick in its favor as Essence Scatter can do the same thing, who is better imho since its cheaper and doesn't give them a choice to avoid it. Sure, you have Cavern of Souls, but that hoses all counter magic, and if you are playing control Izzet Charm is enough to counter instants and sorceries. Let's not forget though, there are some bomby removal spells that are uncounterable - another notch against Syncopate.
As far as your opponent having to add all your mana if they want to play something - I think they'll take that any day over any other counter magic considering you have to hold up ALL your mana if you want to do that, which means you did nothing on your turn. In a meta with aggressively costed creatures, they can afford to play them and leave a lot of mana up, or conversely, they run Sigarda, and you just frown. Either way, it's a tempo loss for you. That's a mark against it.
I don't think its going to see much play. In fact, I'd wager that Negate and Essence Scatter will see more play as while they are narrow answers, are less narrow than Syncopate due to her casting cost/ability.
Edit: In fact, if it weren't for Cavern I think a lot of people would be complaining about Essence Scatter. It works better than Mana Leak in an environment where a lot of decks are going to be running a lot of creatures, and even against other control decks who are going to run a few win-con creatures and who generally aren't going to be running Cavern of Souls (though it might be a 1 or 2 of sideboard option).
Pretty much my thoughts too. It's often Leak on turn 2-3, and still deals with late-game threats. It's almost like a modal spell split between Dissipate and Leak. And it's only that good in mana/CA-heavy decks, so it doesn't run the risk of helping to break Tempo again. And splashable and uncommon. I'm actually rather happy with it.
Now just reprint Electrolyze and a UR counter+shock (at the same time, I mean, not like Izzet Charm) and I don't even care what happens with the rest of the set.
WUBRG Humans
BRW Mardu Pyromancer
UW UW "Control"
UR Blue Moon
Scry is a keyword, therefor it wouldn't be reprinted in this set.
A functional reprint of sorts perhaps.
I think the biggest issue people need to realize is the reason Blue has been and will continue to be the most powerful color in the game is mainly due to card advantage. Every single competitive TCG player knows how important card advantage can be, and giving one color full access to superior drawing is what honestly does it, its the stupid little cantrips that really set them up to be so damn potent. Blue decks in the current format don't ever seem to run out of steam, even after an extensive run of turns, compared to their counterparts of any other color.
I'm not hating on blue, I play blue, I'm just saying if people want to know why they win everything THAT is why. Counterspells, while potent, don't determine the win for Blue, the inability to ever "starve" a blue player is.
So blue players whining that no good counterspell will "ruin" blue, and that it'll be the weakest color in the format this standard and yada yada need to understand WHY their color is so powerful. Its not because you're capable of telling your opponent "no", its because come turn 5-6 when they're running out of steam and playing draw go, you're still able to set up your next 3 turns and sitting on a 5 card hand. Its because when the time comes for you to make your move, you can do it with inherently less risk knowing what's coming next and that you have a nice hand incase everything goes wrong.
I'm not going to lie, Synco is not Mana Leak, Leak was amazing, but its still pretty damn good and pretty damn useful. Its a solid replacement with more late game potential than Leak had.
Also, we still haven't seen RU's uncounterable card. It might just be a cool uncounterable counterspell =P
RRR Khorenthos - The Red Block (Feedback needed!) RRR
This man speaks the truth, sirs.
What blue needs for being strong is cheap card draw and some survival tricks, I'm fine with Syncopate if they give us a way to build our card advantage and respond to the absurd cards aggro is getting.
The blue hate is going to far, IMO. I don't like Delver decks either, but that's not control, I don't think its fair to hate on blue because of a tempo deck.
Honestly Delver seems more straight Aggro to me most times than anything, I mean hell, look in my signature, I play Hexproof Delver Aggro.
Best play ever:
T1: Delver
T2: Reveal Ponder, Flip, play another Delver and Ponder, swing for 3
T3: Reveal Blessings of Nature, Flip, play another Delver, swing for 11
T4: Reveal Revenge of the Hunted, Flip, swing for 20 for overkill.
I realize its the luckiest draws/setups ever, but still it was funny sadly it happened right after I finished talking to the guy about how I hate playing Delver because I like my other cards to shine.
-
I was originally going to play UR in Rav but I'm going to take a shot at Rakdos this time around (I really like how they're shaping up). I'm curious to see what kinds of Izzet cantrips show up though.
RRR Khorenthos - The Red Block (Feedback needed!) RRR