I have both chromatic lantern and vedalken ornery and believe that they both sit at a weird spot. they are not terrible cards but they are both bad cards.
build your mana base correctly and you don't need lantern. now you'd spend more than the 17 dollars on a good mana base so it's still a budget card if you think about it.
vedalken orrery is expensive because of the command zone pod cast. they have over hyped this card.
if every card was 2 dollars then every deck would be the same. I have 1 deck that is tier 1 with crypt moxen mana drain and the like. But I also have a 30 dollar elemental tribal deck that often times more fun than my tier 1 deck. having varying powerlevels allows you to match your meta.
vedalken orrery is expensive because of the command zone pod cast. they have over hyped this card.
This, I love the show, the quality of their podcast is priceless, but is true that Josh has advocated in every single episode about how great vedalken is and how he have one in every single one of his decks
vedalken orrery is expensive because of the command zone pod cast. they have over hyped this card.
This, I love the show, the quality of their podcast is priceless, but is true that Josh has advocated in every single episode about how great vedalken is and how he have one in every single one of his decks
Never heard it personally. I agree with the assessment though - it allows shenanigans but in isolation isn't a fantastic card. Leyline of Anticipation is lots stronger, but has a price to match.
Anyway, the real discussion is when you should sell these cards and if you think they'll be reprinted (so you can purchase again later). I feel like CLantern, Cloud Key, and most of these other artifacts will get another reprint. Hey, we got Coalition Relic with new art. Lands are probably the only things they won't touch.
For the most part, I'm even happy enough with functional reprints, like we saw with Growing Rites of Itlimoc. Reduced price, still workable and still pretty strong. Nothing wrong with that.
we certainly need more staples re-printed, personally if a card is around the 10 dollar point, I'll probably get another for another deck (don't always take them all with me), if it's much higher than that I'd proxy it, but folks in my playgroup tend to know what I own, don't like proxying but I'm not buying another doubling season for instance.
This.
If it's $10 or under, buy another copy if you need another for a different deck. If it's over, proxy it. If anyone ever gives you a hassle over using a proxy of doubling season, simply whip out the real copy. If you don't have the real one with you, you simply say "the real copy is in another deck". It's a casual format. Unless it's a EDH tournament, proxy away.
I just wish WoTc starts reprinting all those staplets we need to build our decks.
Fun fact, you don't "need" any card in all of your decks - at all.
I'd even go as far as saying so called staples are the bane of the format. We're playing a 100 cards singleton format, yet people waste 20 or so nonland slots on the same stuff over and over again, instead of tailoring individual decks around their commanders and deck tech.
No, not all decks need Vedalken Orrery, Maze of Ith, Ancient Tomb or even the omni-present Sol Ring. Yep, even mono-U is still viable without Cyclonic Rift and Rhystic Study - which i bought as a playset for 1€ each back in the days and cut from all but one of my decks and traded away recently.
If i had to make a wish for the format i'd wish for a revival of creativity. At times i'm tired of these copy and paste deck lists, where i can guess 80% of the deck. There are memorable moments created by fun interactions of wellknown cards, but they are by far outclassed by fun - and not necessaruly weaker - interactions of cards you don't see as often, simply because they have a unique synergy within a certain deck. Idk, but Zada, Hedron Grinder + Otherworldly Outburst or Chaos Warp in response to a board wipe makes me a lot happier than the next best guy Tooth and Nailing into Craterhoof Behemoth + Avenger of Zendikar.
You should want more new cards instead of space eaten up with repeats. Put up the money or become a better deck builder who doesn’t rely on “staples.”
Preach!
"New cards" as in both new cards printed (instead of reprints) and overlooked cards you found while sifting through magiccards.info or gatherer instead of taking notes from edhrec.com.
I remember a chapter in the CommandZone podcast where JOsh said that when he buy cards for a commander deck, he usually buys 4 or more, because he knows if he thought it is a worthy card then he would be wanting more copies. I should have bought 4 orrerys, now I know, and I will be purchasing all my cards 4+
That would be an aweful decision. You can't complain about card shortage and EDH demand driving prices then hoard said cards in return... you'd become part of the problem, while asking for others to be part of the solution chrissake.
Even worse if they'd sit in your binder for later decks. While you might've saved some money at the time, if everyone would do the same the price spiral would be even worse.
Stop playing Magic: The Investment, people.
Plus, try to think outside of the box every now and then. Thank you.
That would be an aweful decision. You can't complain about card shortage and EDH demand driving prices then hoard said cards in return... you'd become part of the problem, while asking for others to be part of the solution chrissake.
Even worse if they'd sit in your binder for later decks. While you might've saved some money at the time, if everyone would do the same the price spiral would be even worse.
Stop playing Magic: The Investment, people.
Plus, try to think outside of the box every now and then. Thank you.
I may have misunderstood your statement and if I did my apologies, if not, this is my answer
I am not an investor, I have never ever bought a single card looking for a profit and I prefer to buy before trade because I just don't like to get rid of my cards even if they have seen little o no play.
Everyone plays this format for different reasons, some people like you wants to build wacky decks with filler cards like Glory seeker and thats great, somepople likes this format because they can play with banned cards like Sensei's divining top and some people like me likes the format because it allows us to play strategies that we like but they are weak in other formats or we just don't have the tools (legal cards) to play them.
So, I love Land Tax because if an opponent outplays me and win that's great, I can learn from the loss, I can try to improve but if I loss because mana screw (I just don't play green) then the feeling is not that great.
In other formats we (control players) don't have tools to make our game solid against other gamestyles, Rhystic study is great and helps us with card advantage, in EDH we need to came on top of 3 players, not 1 so one for one trade is not enough and for that we need raw power card draw.
Now, please tell me which good replacements you have for Rhystic study, help me think out of the box
I own all the cards I am complaining about, so is not for lack of accessibility to me that I argue that should be reprinted
Now, please tell me which good replacements you have for Rhystic study, help me think out of the box
Mystic Remora is a pretty decent replacement in a pinch.
No is not, it is a good card but it is not 10% as good as Rhystic
1st. Your opponent needs to cast a non-creature spell, so you won't be getting cards for creature spells
2nd. The cumulative upkeep is a real downer, you would not have it (normaly) for more than 2 turns, we are playing control, we need the mana to cast the cards, so we can't just pay 3,4,5,6 mana for the upkeep
To abuse the remora you need sheninanigans like Sun titan or Solemnity or other stuff while rhystic does all the work by itself
I am not saying the card is bad, the card IS GOOD, I just say that it is not near to be a replacement for rhystic study
1. Everyone plays this format for different reasons, some people like you wants to build wacky decks with filler cards like Glory seeker and thats great
2. So, I love Land Tax because if an opponent outplays me and win that's great, I can learn from the loss, I can try to improve but if I loss because mana screw (I just don't play green) then the feeling is not that great.
3. Rhystic study is great and helps us with card advantage, in EDH we need to came on top of 3 players, not 1 so one for one trade is not enough and for that we need raw power card draw.
4. Now, please tell me which good replacements you have for Rhystic study, help me think out of the box
5. I own all the cards I am complaining about, so is not for lack of accessibility to me that I argue that should be reprinted
Yup, you misunderstood a few things.
1. I never said i'm in it for wacky decks, let alone vanilla bulk such as Glory Seeker.
What i was trying to say is i prefer original card choices over netdeck boredom or huge overlaps between decks. It certainly requires a few cards that see large play, but outside of ramp and removal i think there's a lot of unexplored space for most players i know. Of course my decks run a ton of obvious cards, but its the rare sights that players get curious about and i enjoy playing the most.
2. There's a lot more to building a solid mana base than just fetches, shocks, Land Tax and Chromatic Lantern - even without access to G.
The sheer amount of playable land cycles is laughable: Battlelands ,buddylands, cyclelands, filterlands, future sight lands, painlands, scrylands,shocks (duh), tainted lands, trilands, even manlands... Not even talking about Nimbus Maze, Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth and mana rocks like talismans, signets, Fellwar Stone and the likes. If your mana base allegedly topples over without Land Tax or Chromatic Lantern in the deck, it's obviously a bad mana base, simple as that.
3. The card advantage of Rhystic Study in my meta amounts to close to zero. Unless you're able to drop it on turn 2 or 3 and opponents just don't have the mana to pay for it, it is usually nothing but a taxing effect until it gets removed. Not paying the extra cost is about the worst your opponents can do. If your meta underestimates Rhystic Study that much i don't wonder at all that you want it in each of your decks.
4. At least in my meta the afforementioned Mystic Remora would draw you a ton more cards. Yup, it comes with cummulative upkeep, but just paying that once or twice wouldn't be a big investment and be far more effective. As said, meta dependent, but a "simple" Phyrexian Arena type effect is usually more worth it. If you're looking for a tax effect it'd be higher in my books.
5. You're complaining about card prices and reprints, both of which are closely linked to demand and availability of cards. As said, no matter if you're looking to resell them later on, if a majority of players would buy playsets or more preemptively to rising card prices, that would result in a lot less cards in rotation, which in return would push prices up and result in more pressure to buy preemptively. Bottom line, while a solution for yourself the bigger picture would be an inflated bubble.
Im anti-reprint. I like cards having value. its a ccg first and foremost. It makes the game more appealing. theirs a fine balance between strict ban list and lets reprint all the cards.If people are triggered about prices consider proxies for a casual format.
I just wish WoTc starts reprinting all those staplets we need to build our decks.
Fun fact, you don't "need" any card in all of your decks - at all.
I'd even go as far as saying so called staples are the bane of the format. We're playing a 100 cards singleton format, yet people waste 20 or so nonland slots on the same stuff over and over again, instead of tailoring individual decks around their commanders and deck tech.
No, not all decks need Vedalken Orrery, Maze of Ith, Ancient Tomb or even the omni-present Sol Ring. Yep, even mono-U is still viable without Cyclonic Rift and Rhystic Study - which i bought as a playset for 1€ each back in the days and cut from all but one of my decks and traded away recently.
If i had to make a wish for the format i'd wish for a revival of creativity. At times i'm tired of these copy and paste deck lists, where i can guess 80% of the deck. There are memorable moments created by fun interactions of wellknown cards, but they are by far outclassed by fun - and not necessaruly weaker - interactions of cards you don't see as often, simply because they have a unique synergy within a certain deck. Idk, but Zada, Hedron Grinder + Otherworldly Outburst or Chaos Warp in response to a board wipe makes me a lot happier than the next best guy Tooth and Nailing into Craterhoof Behemoth + Avenger of Zendikar.
You know what I hate even worse than the same old cards? Missing every land drop after Turn 4… Not being able to cast cards half the time I draw them, just because they have a double or triple requirement of one color mana… Playing Brawl when everyone else is playing EDH…
Those are the kinds of staples we’re talking about – Chromatic Lantern, Rhystic Study, Land Tax so on. They help you draw into your deck and play your cards. I think that everyone is in on the same page that Craterhoof doesn’t go into every deck just for the sake of boredom, but hey, Oracle of Mul Daya does and it is $30.
The problem is, design understandably went astray a few times over the 25 year history of the game, and once you open Pandora’s box you can’t shut it again. So, there are several cards that just wildly outperform any substitutes, and then you lump enough of them together and you are just playing a different game than everyone else. One kind of deck is on enough draw, ramp and tutors that it is looping Venser into Nim Deathmantle or something, and at the same point in the game another kind of deck is just hoping to draw its 5th land so it can cast something like Vanquisher’s Banner so that it can reach a draw pace where it’s not missing even more land drops.
As I’ve said before when giving input on decks, the rule set of drawing a 7 card opener and playing mana from your hand simply does not match a format where you need this much mana. One of the reasons that EDH continues to be played to satisfaction is precisely because there are enough worn-out staples in the Eternal card pool that just give you endless amounts of gas. Playing without them is too tough of a sell.
I just wish WoTc starts reprinting all those staplets we need to build our decks.
Fun fact, you don't "need" any card in all of your decks - at all.
I'd even go as far as saying so called staples are the bane of the format. We're playing a 100 cards singleton format, yet people waste 20 or so nonland slots on the same stuff over and over again, instead of tailoring individual decks around their commanders and deck tech.
No, not all decks need Vedalken Orrery, Maze of Ith, Ancient Tomb or even the omni-present Sol Ring. Yep, even mono-U is still viable without Cyclonic Rift and Rhystic Study - which i bought as a playset for 1€ each back in the days and cut from all but one of my decks and traded away recently.
If i had to make a wish for the format i'd wish for a revival of creativity. At times i'm tired of these copy and paste deck lists, where i can guess 80% of the deck. There are memorable moments created by fun interactions of wellknown cards, but they are by far outclassed by fun - and not necessaruly weaker - interactions of cards you don't see as often, simply because they have a unique synergy within a certain deck. Idk, but Zada, Hedron Grinder + Otherworldly Outburst or Chaos Warp in response to a board wipe makes me a lot happier than the next best guy Tooth and Nailing into Craterhoof Behemoth + Avenger of Zendikar.
You know what I hate even worse than the same old cards? Missing every land drop after Turn 4… Not being able to cast cards half the time I draw them, just because they have a double or triple requirement of one color mana… Playing Brawl when everyone else is playing EDH…
Those are the kinds of staples we’re talking about – Chromatic Lantern, Rhystic Study, Land Tax so on. They help you draw into your deck and play your cards. I think that everyone is in on the same page that Craterhoof doesn’t go into every deck just for the sake of boredom, but hey, Oracle of Mul Daya does and it is $30.
The problem is, design understandably went astray a few times over the 25 year history of the game, and once you open Pandora’s box you can’t shut it again. So, there are several cards that just wildly outperform any substitutes, and then you lump enough of them together and you are just playing a different game than everyone else. One kind of deck is on enough draw, ramp and tutors that it is looping Venser into Nim Deathmantle or something, and at the same point in the game another kind of deck is just hoping to draw its 5th land so it can cast something like Vanquisher’s Banner so that it can reach a draw pace where it’s not missing even more land drops.
As I’ve said before when giving input on decks, the rule set of drawing a 7 card opener and playing mana from your hand simply does not match a format where you need this much mana. One of the reasons that EDH continues to be played to satisfaction is precisely because there are enough worn-out staples in the Eternal card pool that just give you endless amounts of gas. Playing without them is too tough of a sell.
I was going to answer this exact post with mostly the same answer, I have been in the situation where I had 4 lands at turn 8 and 1 rock, when I play 36 lands and 10 rocks, so cards like Land tax are a must, since I play it and Tithe I have not been in that awkward situation anymore
Now, please tell me which good replacements you have for Rhystic study, help me think out of the box
Mystic Remora is a pretty decent replacement in a pinch.
No is not, it is a good card but it is not 10% as good as Rhystic
1st. Your opponent needs to cast a non-creature spell, so you won't be getting cards for creature spells
2nd. The cumulative upkeep is a real downer, you would not have it (normaly) for more than 2 turns, we are playing control, we need the mana to cast the cards, so we can't just pay 3,4,5,6 mana for the upkeep
To abuse the remora you need sheninanigans like Sun titan or Solemnity or other stuff while rhystic does all the work by itself
I am not saying the card is bad, the card IS GOOD, I just say that it is not near to be a replacement for rhystic study
Although muldrotha, the gravetide decks make you eat those words since you can just keep casting the card from your graveyard basicly shoulder shrug cumulative upkeep.
And plus don't they have to pay more than rustic study with 4 to prevent the draw
But anyway for my cards I've spotted got a hit from edh
Although muldrotha, the gravetide decks make you eat those words since you can just keep casting the card from your graveyard basicly shoulder shrug cumulative upkeep.
Speaking of Muldrotha, I assume that card is the reason Command Beacon has spiked so hard recently? I was planning to get one, but not at the new price.
Although muldrotha, the gravetide decks make you eat those words since you can just keep casting the card from your graveyard basicly shoulder shrug cumulative upkeep.
Speaking of Muldrotha, I assume that card is the reason Command Beacon has spiked so hard recently? I was planning to get one, but not at the new price.
I wouldn't even characterize it as playing the cards you "need"; I would characterize it more as playing the cards you "want" without card availability being as big of a factor as it has become. With a card's "value" being mostly driven by the quality of the card (or more accurately, the perceived quality of a card with regards to a particular format), the most desirable cards are always going to be the more expensive ones. But if we can at least find ways for the card supply to match a higher portion of the demand, we can get median prices on the secondary market to come down at least a little. This cannot be anything but good for a CCG, even if you are collecting for profit. If the game dies (or even a format), the demand for and value of those cards dies with it.
What they need to do is revisit the idea of Commander's Arsenal. Cut the oversize cards, sleeves, and 'battle marks', expand the selection to 100-120 cards, and package them in 10-card (1 Mythic, 3 Rares, 6 Uncommon/Commons) boosters with a decent MSRP. With enough rarity shifting, you can probably get a really good set and dramatically increase the availability of certain cards. You might run into an issue with the secondary market bumping the booster pack cost to more than MSRP if you make the cards too good, but that is probably okay; I'd rather pay a bit more for good value than less for potential chaff.
What I think will end up happening is that we will continue get more Masters sets that look to incorporate popular yet hard-to-find cards that are in high demand across several formats, but will still be a draftable set and will look to have a $10 MSRP (which is probably about the highest threshold I can see people willing to pay in the near future). If we can continue to reprint cards that have never been reprinted, need a version in the new card frame, or can use a reprint in order to have a version with the correct Oracle wording, then all the better.
I also contend that reprinting a card in a Masters or Arsenal type set doesn't necessitate a card's price tanking; Doubling Season was reprinted in Modern Masters in 2013 and it is still a $60+ card. Jace, the Mind Sculptor was reprinted in Masters 25 and it is still a $120-$140 card. Imperial recruiter was also reprinted in Masters 25 and it might be the best case scenario where the M25 version is $50, but he P3K version is still $150. The prices for these cards isn't tanking; the prices just aren't increasing to ever-higher levels of insanity.
Now, please tell me which good replacements you have for Rhystic study, help me think out of the box
Mystic Remora is a pretty decent replacement in a pinch.
No is not, it is a good card but it is not 10% as good as Rhystic
1st. Your opponent needs to cast a non-creature spell, so you won't be getting cards for creature spells
2nd. The cumulative upkeep is a real downer, you would not have it (normaly) for more than 2 turns, we are playing control, we need the mana to cast the cards, so we can't just pay 3,4,5,6 mana for the upkeep
To abuse the remora you need sheninanigans like Sun titan or Solemnity or other stuff while rhystic does all the work by itself
I am not saying the card is bad, the card IS GOOD, I just say that it is not near to be a replacement for rhystic study
In my Azami, Lady of Scrolls deck I actually run Remora over Rhystic. In a 4 or 5 player game over the course of two turns it either nets card advantage or slows down my opponents enough for me to push over and take the lead.
Now, please tell me which good replacements you have for Rhystic study, help me think out of the box
Mystic Remora is a pretty decent replacement in a pinch.
No is not, it is a good card but it is not 10% as good as Rhystic
1st. Your opponent needs to cast a non-creature spell, so you won't be getting cards for creature spells
2nd. The cumulative upkeep is a real downer, you would not have it (normaly) for more than 2 turns, we are playing control, we need the mana to cast the cards, so we can't just pay 3,4,5,6 mana for the upkeep
To abuse the remora you need sheninanigans like Sun titan or Solemnity or other stuff while rhystic does all the work by itself
I am not saying the card is bad, the card IS GOOD, I just say that it is not near to be a replacement for rhystic study
The more competitive the environment gets, the better Mystic Remora gets in comparison to Rhystic Study.
The cEDH games are going to see more early-game noncreatures, so a 1-drop that triggers off noncreatures becomes more valuable than a 3-drop that triggers off everything. Rhystic, on the other hand, becomes something more like an asymmetrial Sphere of Resistance at a more competitive table than a draw engine.
build your mana base correctly and you don't need lantern. now you'd spend more than the 17 dollars on a good mana base so it's still a budget card if you think about it.
vedalken orrery is expensive because of the command zone pod cast. they have over hyped this card.
if every card was 2 dollars then every deck would be the same. I have 1 deck that is tier 1 with crypt moxen mana drain and the like. But I also have a 30 dollar elemental tribal deck that often times more fun than my tier 1 deck. having varying powerlevels allows you to match your meta.
This, I love the show, the quality of their podcast is priceless, but is true that Josh has advocated in every single episode about how great vedalken is and how he have one in every single one of his decks
EDH: RWB Edgar Markov The current updated decklist is here
EDH: WUB Oloro, Ageless ascetic The current updated decklist is here
EDH: UWG Phelddagrif, The current updated decklist is here
EDH: WUB Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign The current updated decklist is here
EDH: WUB Alela, Artful provocateur The current updated decklist is here
EDH: GB Hapatra, vizier of poisons The current updated decklist is here
Never heard it personally. I agree with the assessment though - it allows shenanigans but in isolation isn't a fantastic card. Leyline of Anticipation is lots stronger, but has a price to match.
Anyway, the real discussion is when you should sell these cards and if you think they'll be reprinted (so you can purchase again later). I feel like CLantern, Cloud Key, and most of these other artifacts will get another reprint. Hey, we got Coalition Relic with new art. Lands are probably the only things they won't touch.
(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'
This.
If it's $10 or under, buy another copy if you need another for a different deck. If it's over, proxy it. If anyone ever gives you a hassle over using a proxy of doubling season, simply whip out the real copy. If you don't have the real one with you, you simply say "the real copy is in another deck". It's a casual format. Unless it's a EDH tournament, proxy away.
I'd even go as far as saying so called staples are the bane of the format. We're playing a 100 cards singleton format, yet people waste 20 or so nonland slots on the same stuff over and over again, instead of tailoring individual decks around their commanders and deck tech.
No, not all decks need Vedalken Orrery, Maze of Ith, Ancient Tomb or even the omni-present Sol Ring. Yep, even mono-U is still viable without Cyclonic Rift and Rhystic Study - which i bought as a playset for 1€ each back in the days and cut from all but one of my decks and traded away recently.
If i had to make a wish for the format i'd wish for a revival of creativity. At times i'm tired of these copy and paste deck lists, where i can guess 80% of the deck. There are memorable moments created by fun interactions of wellknown cards, but they are by far outclassed by fun - and not necessaruly weaker - interactions of cards you don't see as often, simply because they have a unique synergy within a certain deck. Idk, but Zada, Hedron Grinder + Otherworldly Outburst or Chaos Warp in response to a board wipe makes me a lot happier than the next best guy Tooth and Nailing into Craterhoof Behemoth + Avenger of Zendikar. Preach!
"New cards" as in both new cards printed (instead of reprints) and overlooked cards you found while sifting through magiccards.info or gatherer instead of taking notes from edhrec.com. That would be an aweful decision. You can't complain about card shortage and EDH demand driving prices then hoard said cards in return... you'd become part of the problem, while asking for others to be part of the solution chrissake.
Even worse if they'd sit in your binder for later decks. While you might've saved some money at the time, if everyone would do the same the price spiral would be even worse.
Stop playing Magic: The Investment, people.
Plus, try to think outside of the box every now and then. Thank you.
UB Vela the Night-Clad BUDecklist
WBG Ghave, Guru of Spores GBW
WUBRGThe Ur-DragonWUBRGDecklist
I may have misunderstood your statement and if I did my apologies, if not, this is my answer
I am not an investor, I have never ever bought a single card looking for a profit and I prefer to buy before trade because I just don't like to get rid of my cards even if they have seen little o no play.
Everyone plays this format for different reasons, some people like you wants to build wacky decks with filler cards like Glory seeker and thats great, somepople likes this format because they can play with banned cards like Sensei's divining top and some people like me likes the format because it allows us to play strategies that we like but they are weak in other formats or we just don't have the tools (legal cards) to play them.
So, I love Land Tax because if an opponent outplays me and win that's great, I can learn from the loss, I can try to improve but if I loss because mana screw (I just don't play green) then the feeling is not that great.
In other formats we (control players) don't have tools to make our game solid against other gamestyles, Rhystic study is great and helps us with card advantage, in EDH we need to came on top of 3 players, not 1 so one for one trade is not enough and for that we need raw power card draw.
Now, please tell me which good replacements you have for Rhystic study, help me think out of the box
I own all the cards I am complaining about, so is not for lack of accessibility to me that I argue that should be reprinted
EDH: RWB Edgar Markov The current updated decklist is here
EDH: WUB Oloro, Ageless ascetic The current updated decklist is here
EDH: UWG Phelddagrif, The current updated decklist is here
EDH: WUB Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign The current updated decklist is here
EDH: WUB Alela, Artful provocateur The current updated decklist is here
EDH: GB Hapatra, vizier of poisons The current updated decklist is here
Mystic Remora is a pretty decent replacement in a pinch.
Currently Playing:
Multiplayer EDH Lists (click italics for a link to the thread!)
[Primer] Lord of Tresserhorn - Don't Tell Me What I Can't Do[Primer] Roon of the Hidden Realm - Rhino Blink
5 Color Tribal Guide (Slivers, Atogs, Allies, Spirits)
Also Playing (most decklists can be found on my profile)
MarathGeistKamahlGrenzoBolasThassaGitrog
PiratesZurVial Smasher&ThrasiosYennettJhoira(cEDH)Strix(Pauper)
Legacy: Maverick
Modern:
Melira PodRIP 1/19/15GWHatebearsNo is not, it is a good card but it is not 10% as good as Rhystic
1st. Your opponent needs to cast a non-creature spell, so you won't be getting cards for creature spells
2nd. The cumulative upkeep is a real downer, you would not have it (normaly) for more than 2 turns, we are playing control, we need the mana to cast the cards, so we can't just pay 3,4,5,6 mana for the upkeep
To abuse the remora you need sheninanigans like Sun titan or Solemnity or other stuff while rhystic does all the work by itself
I am not saying the card is bad, the card IS GOOD, I just say that it is not near to be a replacement for rhystic study
EDH: RWB Edgar Markov The current updated decklist is here
EDH: WUB Oloro, Ageless ascetic The current updated decklist is here
EDH: UWG Phelddagrif, The current updated decklist is here
EDH: WUB Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign The current updated decklist is here
EDH: WUB Alela, Artful provocateur The current updated decklist is here
EDH: GB Hapatra, vizier of poisons The current updated decklist is here
1. I never said i'm in it for wacky decks, let alone vanilla bulk such as Glory Seeker.
What i was trying to say is i prefer original card choices over netdeck boredom or huge overlaps between decks. It certainly requires a few cards that see large play, but outside of ramp and removal i think there's a lot of unexplored space for most players i know. Of course my decks run a ton of obvious cards, but its the rare sights that players get curious about and i enjoy playing the most.
Teferi's Veil and Equilibrium in Edric, Spymaster of Trest.
Ancestral Knowledge, Shimmer, Vedalken Plotter and Wu Spy in Brago, King Eternal.
Nacatl War-Pride, Swooping Talon and Pristine Angel in Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist.
Kavu Lair and Primal Order in Omnath, Locus of Rage.
Bubbling Muck and Ritual of the Machine in Gonti, Lord of Luxury.
Vitalize and Hall of Gemstone in Ezuri, Renegade Leader
...
The sheer amount of playable land cycles is laughable: Battlelands ,buddylands, cyclelands, filterlands, future sight lands, painlands, scrylands,shocks (duh), tainted lands, trilands, even manlands... Not even talking about Nimbus Maze, Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth and mana rocks like talismans, signets, Fellwar Stone and the likes. If your mana base allegedly topples over without Land Tax or Chromatic Lantern in the deck, it's obviously a bad mana base, simple as that.
3. The card advantage of Rhystic Study in my meta amounts to close to zero. Unless you're able to drop it on turn 2 or 3 and opponents just don't have the mana to pay for it, it is usually nothing but a taxing effect until it gets removed. Not paying the extra cost is about the worst your opponents can do. If your meta underestimates Rhystic Study that much i don't wonder at all that you want it in each of your decks.
4. At least in my meta the afforementioned Mystic Remora would draw you a ton more cards. Yup, it comes with cummulative upkeep, but just paying that once or twice wouldn't be a big investment and be far more effective. As said, meta dependent, but a "simple" Phyrexian Arena type effect is usually more worth it. If you're looking for a tax effect it'd be higher in my books.
5. You're complaining about card prices and reprints, both of which are closely linked to demand and availability of cards. As said, no matter if you're looking to resell them later on, if a majority of players would buy playsets or more preemptively to rising card prices, that would result in a lot less cards in rotation, which in return would push prices up and result in more pressure to buy preemptively. Bottom line, while a solution for yourself the bigger picture would be an inflated bubble.
You know what I hate even worse than the same old cards? Missing every land drop after Turn 4… Not being able to cast cards half the time I draw them, just because they have a double or triple requirement of one color mana… Playing Brawl when everyone else is playing EDH…
Those are the kinds of staples we’re talking about – Chromatic Lantern, Rhystic Study, Land Tax so on. They help you draw into your deck and play your cards. I think that everyone is in on the same page that Craterhoof doesn’t go into every deck just for the sake of boredom, but hey, Oracle of Mul Daya does and it is $30.
The problem is, design understandably went astray a few times over the 25 year history of the game, and once you open Pandora’s box you can’t shut it again. So, there are several cards that just wildly outperform any substitutes, and then you lump enough of them together and you are just playing a different game than everyone else. One kind of deck is on enough draw, ramp and tutors that it is looping Venser into Nim Deathmantle or something, and at the same point in the game another kind of deck is just hoping to draw its 5th land so it can cast something like Vanquisher’s Banner so that it can reach a draw pace where it’s not missing even more land drops.
As I’ve said before when giving input on decks, the rule set of drawing a 7 card opener and playing mana from your hand simply does not match a format where you need this much mana. One of the reasons that EDH continues to be played to satisfaction is precisely because there are enough worn-out staples in the Eternal card pool that just give you endless amounts of gas. Playing without them is too tough of a sell.
I was going to answer this exact post with mostly the same answer, I have been in the situation where I had 4 lands at turn 8 and 1 rock, when I play 36 lands and 10 rocks, so cards like Land tax are a must, since I play it and Tithe I have not been in that awkward situation anymore
EDH: RWB Edgar Markov The current updated decklist is here
EDH: WUB Oloro, Ageless ascetic The current updated decklist is here
EDH: UWG Phelddagrif, The current updated decklist is here
EDH: WUB Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign The current updated decklist is here
EDH: WUB Alela, Artful provocateur The current updated decklist is here
EDH: GB Hapatra, vizier of poisons The current updated decklist is here
Although muldrotha, the gravetide decks make you eat those words since you can just keep casting the card from your graveyard basicly shoulder shrug cumulative upkeep.
And plus don't they have to pay more than rustic study with 4 to prevent the draw
But anyway for my cards I've spotted got a hit from edh
training grounds use to be only $2 now it's like $14
2023 Average Peasant Cube|and Discussion
Because I have more decks than fit in a signature
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Wait what In the world
How did that bounce to $40
What they need to do is revisit the idea of Commander's Arsenal. Cut the oversize cards, sleeves, and 'battle marks', expand the selection to 100-120 cards, and package them in 10-card (1 Mythic, 3 Rares, 6 Uncommon/Commons) boosters with a decent MSRP. With enough rarity shifting, you can probably get a really good set and dramatically increase the availability of certain cards. You might run into an issue with the secondary market bumping the booster pack cost to more than MSRP if you make the cards too good, but that is probably okay; I'd rather pay a bit more for good value than less for potential chaff.
What I think will end up happening is that we will continue get more Masters sets that look to incorporate popular yet hard-to-find cards that are in high demand across several formats, but will still be a draftable set and will look to have a $10 MSRP (which is probably about the highest threshold I can see people willing to pay in the near future). If we can continue to reprint cards that have never been reprinted, need a version in the new card frame, or can use a reprint in order to have a version with the correct Oracle wording, then all the better.
I also contend that reprinting a card in a Masters or Arsenal type set doesn't necessitate a card's price tanking; Doubling Season was reprinted in Modern Masters in 2013 and it is still a $60+ card. Jace, the Mind Sculptor was reprinted in Masters 25 and it is still a $120-$140 card. Imperial recruiter was also reprinted in Masters 25 and it might be the best case scenario where the M25 version is $50, but he P3K version is still $150. The prices for these cards isn't tanking; the prices just aren't increasing to ever-higher levels of insanity.
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
(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'
In my Azami, Lady of Scrolls deck I actually run Remora over Rhystic. In a 4 or 5 player game over the course of two turns it either nets card advantage or slows down my opponents enough for me to push over and take the lead.
The cEDH games are going to see more early-game noncreatures, so a 1-drop that triggers off noncreatures becomes more valuable than a 3-drop that triggers off everything. Rhystic, on the other hand, becomes something more like an asymmetrial Sphere of Resistance at a more competitive table than a draw engine.
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
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