I find it interesting that they've been doing riffs on Sanguine Bond with increasing frequency, but they only did Exquisite Blood once. This one is fun in that you can activate it multiple times.
I would guess part of that is to avoid creating more combos.
Sometimes I wonder if WotC never makes an infinite combo on purpose, but it just keeps happening by accident.
I find it interesting that they've been doing riffs on Sanguine Bond with increasing frequency, but they only did Exquisite Blood once. This one is fun in that you can activate it multiple times.
I would guess part of that is to avoid creating more combos.
Sometimes I wonder if WotC never makes an infinite combo on purpose, but it just keeps happening by accident.
This variant's interesting because it gets around Witchbane Orb and friends, and unlike Sanguine Bond, it's an activated ability which you can stack more easily (just pay 2WWBB, or just use rings or bracers).
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Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
while Prossh has more obvious combos, there was Tooth and Claw with Primal Vigor, which...does nothing on its own, but with Doubling Season, Parallel Lives, Anointed Procession, or literally any ETB or death trigger goes infinite.
The Prossh deck also came with Stalking Vengeance, so you could turn it into an infinite damage combo without changing the deck by a single card.
For whatever reason, I cannot edit my posts or see any spoilers on this site at the moment, which means I also don't have the list of cards we've already done. So whenever things are working right for me again, I'll make sure to copy the list out of the first post, and to avoid repeats today, It'll be random M19 card of the day and then there's no chance we've done it before.
For whatever reason, I cannot edit my posts or see any spoilers on this site at the moment, which means I also don't have the list of cards we've already done. So whenever things are working right for me again, I'll make sure to copy the list out of the first post, and to avoid repeats today, It'll be random M19 card of the day and then there's no chance we've done it before.
[/c]Open the Graves[/c]
Seems pretty strong with Recurring N...evermind.
I had the editing/quoting issues earlier, now it seems fixed.
As for the card, I like it, but not sure at 5cc if it'd be needed in relate to all other zombie creators.
Going from 1/1 to 2/2 may not seem like a huge deal in Commander (but it can still be played in B, WB, UB, BR, WUB, UBR, RWB, and WUBR), but it is in most other formats. The problem is playing it in token decks in general: They don't want that "nontoken" clause, and are generally happier with variants like Requiem Angel where their (non-spirit) tokens can get in on the action. Not a huge deal, since Nim Deathmantle is how you abuse these things. (Or, well, Ghave and Mikaeus, the Unhallowed.)
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Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
Being Mono-black is pretty significant, and probably worth the extra 2 mana. Decks that want Grave Pact are probably going to want Open the Graves as well. Not to mention that Zombies are generally a more relevant creature type than Saprolings.
I wouldn't be surprised if this card ended up being one of the more expensive ($5+) from the set years down the line simply because of its casual appeal.
Ogre Slumlord is way better in most cases, though the Zombie creature type can make this better in some tribal decks. Pawn of Ulamog is 2 mana cheaper and can ramp you, so I'd take him over this in most decks too.
A 2/2 Zombie just doesn't beat a 0/1 Eldrazi spawn or 1/1 deathtouch rat for me in most games.
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My Decks:
Aggro: WUBRGHorde of Notions Goodstuff, RUBCheesy Aggro, GR Xenagod Gruul Goodstuff
Control: GWBGhave, Guru of Adaptability, UBWrexial, Milling Deep UAzami, Lady of No Infinite Combos GWU Derevi, Tempo Beats
Other: URGRiku of Too Much Mana, WUBRG Sliver Queen Enchantress
Did some good work for me at the prerelease, but not what I really want in EDH - as others have pointed out, a lower mana cost for smaller bodies would be much more useful in this format.
One of the posterchilds of "Newbies think this sucks, casual players think it's no threat, seasoned players know better."
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My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
The flavor text seems to be directly telling me to bounce everyone's lands with this card.
Tradewind/Awakening and Tradewind/Armageddon with/without Opposition were quite punishing at the time In 60 cards. I haven’t seen this card used in EDH.
I play Keeper of the nine gales in my bird tribal deck... the first few times I played it no one was ready for it.. I cyclonic rift and bounce every attempt anyone makes to get back on board. Its absoutle a must kill or it gets out of hand fast.
Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
Sometimes I wonder if WotC never makes an infinite combo on purpose, but it just keeps happening by accident.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
The Unidentified Fantastic Flying Girl.
EDH
Xenagos, the God of Stompy
The Gitrog Monster: Oppressive Value.
Marchesa, Marionette Master - Undying Robots
Yuriko, the Hydra Omnivore
I make dolls as a hobby.
This is exactly why. Give everything lifelink? Thank you. I’d say it would be too hard to balance, it’s just a really good effect.
EDH decks: 1. RGWMayael's Big BeatsRETIRED!
2. BUWMerieke Ri Berit and the 40 Thieves
3. URNiv's Wheeling and Dealing!
4. BURThe Walking Dead
5. GWSisay's Legends of Tomorrow
6. RWBRise of Markov
7. GElvez and stuffz(W)
8. RCrush your enemies(W)
9. BSign right here...(W)
When Mindcrank was spoiled, they said something to the effect of "I know you love Bloodchief Ascension." A year later they did the same with Mirror-Mad Phantasm (with Cackling Counterpart and Laboratory Maniac) and Exquisite Blood (with Sanguine Bond). So if the new policy is "no deliberate combos", I assume it began after Innistrad block. (Then again, C13's Oloro deck had Blood Bond in it, and while Prossh has more obvious combos, there was Tooth and Claw with Primal Vigor, which...does nothing on its own, but with Doubling Season, Parallel Lives, Anointed Procession, or literally any ETB or death trigger goes infinite.)
This variant's interesting because it gets around Witchbane Orb and friends, and unlike Sanguine Bond, it's an activated ability which you can stack more easily (just pay 2WWBB, or just use rings or bracers).
On phasing:
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
Open the Graves
Seems pretty strong with Recurring N...evermind.
OtG's cost seems too high, right?
(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'
I had the editing/quoting issues earlier, now it seems fixed.
As for the card, I like it, but not sure at 5cc if it'd be needed in relate to all other zombie creators.
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
Going from 1/1 to 2/2 may not seem like a huge deal in Commander (but it can still be played in B, WB, UB, BR, WUB, UBR, RWB, and WUBR), but it is in most other formats. The problem is playing it in token decks in general: They don't want that "nontoken" clause, and are generally happier with variants like Requiem Angel where their (non-spirit) tokens can get in on the action. Not a huge deal, since Nim Deathmantle is how you abuse these things. (Or, well, Ghave and Mikaeus, the Unhallowed.)
On phasing:
I wouldn't be surprised if this card ended up being one of the more expensive ($5+) from the set years down the line simply because of its casual appeal.
(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'
If they did, this enchantment would certainly be 1 cheaper, and probably be a better card overall.
This enchantment seems solid to me in most zombie commander decks.
A 2/2 Zombie just doesn't beat a 0/1 Eldrazi spawn or 1/1 deathtouch rat for me in most games.
Aggro: WUBRGHorde of Notions Goodstuff, RUB Cheesy Aggro, GR Xenagod Gruul Goodstuff
Control: GWBGhave, Guru of Adaptability, UBWrexial, Milling Deep UAzami, Lady of No Infinite Combos GWU Derevi, Tempo Beats
Other: URGRiku of Too Much Mana, WUBRG Sliver Queen Enchantress
The flavor text seems to be directly telling me to bounce everyone's lands with this card.
Ugh... don’t even get me started. It’s playing against cards like these that teach you very valuable deckbuilding skills.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
Tradewind/Awakening and Tradewind/Armageddon with/without Opposition were quite punishing at the time In 60 cards. I haven’t seen this card used in EDH.
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
Pioneer:UR Pheonix
Modern:U Mono U Tron
EDH
GB Glissa, the traitor: Army of Cans
UW Dragonlord Ojutai: Dragonlord NOjutai
UWGDerevi, Empyrial Tactician "you cannot fight the storm"
R Zirilan of the claw. The solution to every problem is dragons
UB Etrata, the Silencer Cloning assassination
Peasant cube: Cards I own
Yisan->Mom ->some random untap creature ->Eidolon of Rhetoric ->Tradewind Rider ->Seedborn Muse and the fun begins.
On phasing:
Jalira, Master Polymorphist | Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder | Bosh, Iron Golem | Ezuri, Renegade Leader
Brago, King Eternal | Oona, Queen of the Fae | Wort, Boggart Auntie | Wort, the Raidmother
Captain Sisay | Rhys, the Redeemed | Trostani, Selesnya's Voice | Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight | Obzedat, Ghost Council | Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind | Vorel of the Hull Clade
Uril, the Miststalker | Prossh, Skyraider of Kher | Nicol Bolas | Progenitus
Ghave, Guru of Spores | Zedruu the Greathearted | Damia, Sage of Stone | Riku of Two Reflections
That is an incredibly fair use, and admittedly, not one I’ve ever thought of. Cool. RCoTD strikes again!