I'm looking to build an Orzhov Aristocrats deck and while the new Teysa Karlov looks really unique, I'm wondering whether she's actually better than the old Teysa, Orzhov Scion. Doubling death triggers can of course be really powerful, but I feel like she'll often just double stuff that would already be great anyway (clamping for four cards is obviously amazing, but you don't need that to push Skullclamp over the top). Furthermore, she only works if you already have a full machinery of pieces on the board (creatures to sac as plus a sac outlet plus cards like Grave Pact that profit from the sacrifice).
On the other hand, old Teysa does a bit more herself, being a sac outlet on her own. However, she also has restrictions due to each of her effects only working for one color. Having never seen her in action before, I always feared this might be a bit clunky.
What are your thoughts? Have you already played the old Teysa or experimented with the new one? Which do you think is the more powerful and more fun commander? I'd love to hear your opinions!
Old Teysa is better in competitive circles, because she goes infinite with Darkest Hour. In less competitive, she works well as a removal on a stick that forces your opponent to keep your board clear if they want to land any non-shroud creatures.
The new one has potential to do some fun stuff, and could create an interesting death trigger build. But it won't be as competitive, if that matters to you.
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You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
Old Teysa is better, even without the darkest hour combo.
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In a vacuum, considered only on the strengths of what is written on the card, Teysa I is much stronger. That said, it wouldn't be hard to brew a deck where New Teysa would be the better choice, and many decks that would want one would also want the other.
Old Teysa is better, even without the darkest hour combo.
The infinite is a big part of why, although something can also be said for costing 1WB instead of 2WB. The difference isn't much at first, but with the Commander tax, 3WB versus 4WB, 5WB versus 6WB, etc.
Regardless, you can put both of them in the same deck, but I'd probably go for Teysa 3 as a Commander. Though it isn't hard to brew a deck where Teysa 3 is a stronger choice; you'd be looking at Grave Pact variants, Blood Artist variants, and the like.
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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!
I'm looking to build an Orzhov Aristocrats deck and while the new Teysa Karlov looks really unique, I'm wondering whether she's actually better than the old Teysa, Orzhov Scion. Doubling death triggers can of course be really powerful, but I feel like she'll often just double stuff that would already be great anyway (clamping for four cards is obviously amazing, but you don't need that to push Skullclamp over the top). Furthermore, she only works if you already have a full machinery of pieces on the board (creatures to sac as plus a sac outlet plus cards like Grave Pact that profit from the sacrifice).
On the other hand, old Teysa does a bit more herself, being a sac outlet on her own. However, she also has restrictions due to each of her effects only working for one color. Having never seen her in action before, I always feared this might be a bit clunky.
What are your thoughts? Have you already played the old Teysa or experimented with the new one? Which do you think is the more powerful and more fun commander? I'd love to hear your opinions!
The new one has potential to do some fun stuff, and could create an interesting death trigger build. But it won't be as competitive, if that matters to you.
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
Onering's 4 simple steps that let you solve any problem with Magic's gameplay
Step 1: Identify the problem. What aspect of Magic don't you like? Step 2: Find out how others deal with the problem. How do players deal with this aspect of the game when they run into it? Step 3: Do what those players do. Step 4: No more problem. Bonus: You are now better at Magic. Enjoy those extra wins!
The infinite is a big part of why, although something can also be said for costing 1WB instead of 2WB. The difference isn't much at first, but with the Commander tax, 3WB versus 4WB, 5WB versus 6WB, etc.
Regardless, you can put both of them in the same deck, but I'd probably go for Teysa 3 as a Commander. Though it isn't hard to brew a deck where Teysa 3 is a stronger choice; you'd be looking at Grave Pact variants, Blood Artist variants, and the like.
On phasing: