I just wanted to see what people here thought of these cards. Are there some that are clearly the best? Is word of seizing's flexibility outweighed by grab the reins' giving you a sac outlet? Are these effects even worth running?
I think most people can agree that Insurrection is the most powerful of Red's threaten effects and in a lot of matches becomes a 1 card "I win" play in the late game. Because of that it's the one that gets the most attention, but I also personally like Grab the Reins for it's versatility (doubles as removal).
I don't know if most of the others non-creature ones get played that much. At least Molten Primordial swings for 6 also.
Word of Seizing is so versatile. The bigger cost is worth it as a goodstuff use of this effect. OR just use Zealous Conscripts since that ability is tough to counter (though blue gets its own Voidslime soon) and being on a creature is great.
I'm also a fan of Hijack from our latest set. Been trying it out in Jor. Probably should be limited to decks with an artifact focus.
As far as winning games, Insurrection almost always eliminates someone from the game (except in cases of Fog, but that negates most of these cards if you use them for face value).
What these combo with are sacrificing outlets. Altar of Dementia is the colorless go-to card, but my Commander running these Threaten cards is Tymaret, the Murder King. Having an ever present sac outlet makes these grabbing cards double as removal.
With that in mind, responding to threats is my goal, so Disharmony is great battle response removal, either just removing that damage or blocking and possible removing two creaures due to combat. Malevolent Whispers grants a power boost and if discarded can be used at instant speed. This works great with Fling or Bloodshot Cyclops Turn Against is on the expensive side but IS an instant and colorless. This means you can nab Iona mid attack. If Iona, Shield of Emeria isn't an issue, stick with Act of Aggression. Fractured Loyalty is an amazingly fun card that in a multiplayer game allows everyone to pass that big scary creature around like the village bicycle. Disharmony is probably more useful, but this one is probably my favorite due to the ensuing chaos, though it should be noted that Besmirch is a great psychological card to play in a big game, as the aggression will be turned towards the turned towards the goaded creature's controller if the creature is sizable enough.
I haven't had it show up in a game yet, but I'm really excited to try Frenzied Fugue. Cheaply (in consideration to other recurring effects) nabbing a PERMANENT (not just creature) every turn looks crazy and like my new favorite way to deal with planeswalkers.
The main criteria in multiplayer for me is instant-speed, which is why I like act of aggression over others. It's very nice to be able to block that 7/7 deathtouch with your opponent's 50/50 counter monster.
Beyond that, versatility is the main criteria. Hijack is the same 3 cmc as Threaten, but it can grab artifacts too. I would not pay more than 3 for one of these effects unless it is instant-speed or can grab noncreature permanents.
There is that 5CC mini-Insurrection where you get one creature from each opponent, forget the name though. Sometimes you don't need Insurrection when you get the 3 best creatures on the board three turns earlier, plus it can be copied by Fork, Reverberate etc.
Instant speed tricks are always best. That way instead of just taking a creature to attack with, you can steal something when you are being attacked. It can make for some nice 2-for-1 removal effects that mono-red doesn't have much of. Word of Seizing and Grab the Reins are my top-2 fav's, but my 3rd is Act of Aggression. Disharmony acts somewhat the same, just defensive.
In theory, Frenzied Fugue seems great (as far as these effects go, not really cEDH material). I picked up two copies but I haven't cast them in a game yet.
I just wanted to see what people here thought of these cards. Are there some that are clearly the best? Is word of seizing's flexibility outweighed by grab the reins' giving you a sac outlet? Are these effects even worth running?
Thank you for your input
Tymna & Ishai, ie Esper Edric
Crosis Turbotrash
I don't know if most of the others non-creature ones get played that much. At least Molten Primordial swings for 6 also.
U Azami, Lady of Scrolls - Knowledge is Power U [Primer]
R Heartless Hidetsugu - The Art of Ending Games R
GB Ishkanah, Grafwidow - The Cluster HungersBG
I'm also a fan of Hijack from our latest set. Been trying it out in Jor. Probably should be limited to decks with an artifact focus.
(U/B)(U/B)(U/B) JUMP IN THE LINE, ROCK YOUR BODY IN TIME
(R/W)(R/W)(R/W) RISING FROM THE NEON GLOOM, SHINING LIKE A CRAZY MOON
(U/R)(R/G)(G/U) STEALIN' WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUYIN'
What these combo with are sacrificing outlets. Altar of Dementia is the colorless go-to card, but my Commander running these Threaten cards is Tymaret, the Murder King. Having an ever present sac outlet makes these grabbing cards double as removal.
With that in mind, responding to threats is my goal, so Disharmony is great battle response removal, either just removing that damage or blocking and possible removing two creaures due to combat.
Malevolent Whispers grants a power boost and if discarded can be used at instant speed. This works great with Fling or Bloodshot Cyclops
Turn Against is on the expensive side but IS an instant and colorless. This means you can nab Iona mid attack. If Iona, Shield of Emeria isn't an issue, stick with Act of Aggression.
Fractured Loyalty is an amazingly fun card that in a multiplayer game allows everyone to pass that big scary creature around like the village bicycle. Disharmony is probably more useful, but this one is probably my favorite due to the ensuing chaos, though it should be noted that Besmirch is a great psychological card to play in a big game, as the aggression will be turned towards the turned towards the goaded creature's controller if the creature is sizable enough.
I haven't had it show up in a game yet, but I'm really excited to try Frenzied Fugue. Cheaply (in consideration to other recurring effects) nabbing a PERMANENT (not just creature) every turn looks crazy and like my new favorite way to deal with planeswalkers.
Tymna & Ishai, ie Esper Edric
Crosis Turbotrash
The main criteria in multiplayer for me is instant-speed, which is why I like act of aggression over others. It's very nice to be able to block that 7/7 deathtouch with your opponent's 50/50 counter monster.
Beyond that, versatility is the main criteria. Hijack is the same 3 cmc as Threaten, but it can grab artifacts too. I would not pay more than 3 for one of these effects unless it is instant-speed or can grab noncreature permanents.
- Rabid Wombat
Besmirch
I think these are the most powerful creature-specific threatens.
I would then go Zealous Conscripts.
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
Links to my most current deck lists;
Primary EDH; Rakka Mar Token Perfection, Crosis Mnemonic Betrayal, Cromat Villainous, Judith Gravestorm, Rakdos Empty Storm, Exava Artifacts, Bant Trash, & Fumiko Voltron!
EDH kept at home; Ruzzian Isset & Rakdos LoR!
EDH (nostalgic/pimp/retired) in storage;
Latulla Burns, Akroma Smash, Jeska Voltron, Rakdos Storm, Bladewing Darghans, Lyzolda Worldgorger, Xantcha Steals your Heart, Jori Storm, Wydwen Permission, Gwendlyn Paradox, Jeleva Warps, & Sigarda Brick!
Legacy Showanimator and High Tide!
Grab the Reins as always been solid for me.
Credit to DolZero for this awesome sig!
You can use most Threaten effects to give haste to one of your creatures if needed. I saw somebody lose to Phage the Untouchable that way once.