Rather than dig through the entire list on Gatherer, I was wondering what your favorite targets are for Spellseeker.
- Context: commander is The Scarab God, so Dimir colors.
- Let's skip the really obvious ones: Demonic Tutor, Counterspell, Cyclonic Rift.
I don't quite "get" the popularity of BSZ. I mean, black has quite a few true board wipes with a lot fewer results on edhrec - it's got almost 15K, while extinguish all hope only has 2.5K. Granted, extinguish all hope is kind of mediocre, but it's still probably going to be cheaper to wipe the board with it than with BSZ, possibly by quite a lot. And even stuff that costs less, like crux of fate is lower than BSZ, and stuff with major upsides like necromantic selection. Is the appeal that you can save your own fatter creatures and only kill the small stuff? So then why is forced march virtually untouched with only 200 users? Is it being able to kill indestructibles? Seems kind of niche to me.
I don't quite "get" the popularity of BSZ. I mean, black has quite a few true board wipes with a lot fewer results on edhrec - it's got almost 15K, while extinguish all hope only has 2.5K. Granted, extinguish all hope is kind of mediocre, but it's still probably going to be cheaper to wipe the board with it than with BSZ, possibly by quite a lot. And even stuff that costs less, like crux of fate is lower than BSZ, and stuff with major upsides like necromantic selection. Is the appeal that you can save your own fatter creatures and only kill the small stuff? So then why is forced march virtually untouched with only 200 users? Is it being able to kill indestructibles? Seems kind of niche to me.
Anyway, I don't get it.
Well, BSZ deals with P/T, Forced March does CMC. P/T is easy to mannipulate and P/T and cmc don't always correlate. For being less flexible and more expensive, Forced March is really quite *****.
That being said, I don't really get it either when damnation isn't all that expensive anymore. This isn't time spiral standard people. Spend the 25 bucks on a real boardwipe or less on a toxic deluge and move onward.
I don't quite "get" the popularity of BSZ. I mean, black has quite a few true board wipes with a lot fewer results on edhrec - it's got almost 15K, while extinguish all hope only has 2.5K. Granted, extinguish all hope is kind of mediocre, but it's still probably going to be cheaper to wipe the board with it than with BSZ, possibly by quite a lot. And even stuff that costs less, like crux of fate is lower than BSZ, and stuff with major upsides like necromantic selection. Is the appeal that you can save your own fatter creatures and only kill the small stuff? So then why is forced march virtually untouched with only 200 users? Is it being able to kill indestructibles? Seems kind of niche to me.
Anyway, I don't get it.
I believe it is because it deals with indestructible and Persist creatures. Also, it can be proliferated. Also, it shuffles back into the library, which I think is overrated by many magic players.
Because of these reasons, and because it is not expensive at all, I think it slots well into a casual deck-builder's deck.
I will note that you missed the upside of shrinking a general without killing it - example, Black Sun's Zenith is better for X=4 than any other boardwipe against Maelstrom Wanderer.
I played many years of magic refusing to spend more than 2$ on a card. Damnation is great, and more affordable than it was, but casual players will still often say it is not worth it.
I am disappointed no one has mentioned Word of Command. All the judges love that card; just make certain you ay thw wrong land for them during their draw step
Honorable mention to Magical Hack, for something no one will expect.
I believe it is because it deals with indestructible and Persist creatures. Also, it can be proliferated. Also, it shuffles back into the library, which I think is overrated by many magic players.
Because of these reasons, and because it is not expensive at all, I think it slots well into a casual deck-builder's deck.
I will note that you missed the upside of shrinking a general without killing it - example, Black Sun's Zenith is better for X=4 than any other boardwipe against Maelstrom Wanderer.
I played many years of magic refusing to spend more than 2$ on a card. Damnation is great, and more affordable than it was, but casual players will still often say it is not worth it.
I thought about the shrinking effect, but then decided it was pretty irrelevant since it's probably going to be quite ineffective against most voltron commanders. MW, having a strong cast/etb trigger, is the sort of commander that is better restrained than killed, but that seems like a really rare scenario to me. And even then, MW is still 3 power of commander damage that gives everything haste and can be recast it you block it (usually), so I still wouldn't be thrilled to have it on the board.
I'd say ixidron is significantly better as a "board wipe" against it, but it's a different color so I guess it's not really a fair comparison.
I don't think you need to compare BSZ to a relatively expensive card like damnation to see how overplayed it is - crux of fate sells for less than a dollar, and it's only 1 more mana than damnation. BSZ is over $3 on tcgplayer. Or there's necromatic selection, which has some major upside for a somewhat higher cost. Much more upside than BSZ, I'd say, and you're probably paying similar amounts of mana for it.
I am disappointed no one has mentioned Word of Command. All the judges love that card; just make certain you ay thw wrong land for them during their draw step
Honorable mention to Magical Hack, for something no one will expect.
Word is a pretty cool card, but way out of my budget. Not sure what Magical Hack would actually accomplish, maybe I'm missing something?
As for BSZ, it is certainly flexible and deals with a lot of problematic things. I actually used to run it in the first version of my deck, and I recall casting it for 4BB in one game that allowed TSG to live through it, which was pretty helpful.
I thought about the shrinking effect, but then decided it was pretty irrelevant since it's probably going to be quite ineffective against most voltron commanders. MW, having a strong cast/etb trigger, is the sort of commander that is better restrained than killed, but that seems like a really rare scenario to me.
I remember a BSZ for 5 making all my roaring dinosaur a bunch of 1/1 or 2/2. My poor Gishath became a 2/1 and was useless. It was almost like a mass extinction.
Yeah honestly it's an overrated card, but it's still good thanks to its versatility
On topic, i think it will be very useful for your deck, but spellseeker can tutor high tide and bubbling muck
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How i feel about competitive players and casual players in EDH: The competitive are german tourists, the casual are italian tourists, both in a italian beach. The italians asking themselves "why are the germans here?" make a legitimate question, the answer is because the beach is beautiful, no matter the country you came from. The italians wanting to ban the germans are dumb, because if the germans pay for their stay and follow the rules like everyone else, they have the right to be in the beach. Hovewer, if the germans started to ask themselves "why are the italians here?"... they would be dumb as hell.
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Rather than dig through the entire list on Gatherer, I was wondering what your favorite targets are for Spellseeker.
- Context: commander is The Scarab God, so Dimir colors.
- Let's skip the really obvious ones: Demonic Tutor, Counterspell, Cyclonic Rift.
Yeva (88/92 foils)
Raff
Scarab
Rakdos
Wort ($50 budget, 94/97 foils)
Trostani
in other colors I've liked
UW Ephara Hatebears [Primer], GB Gitrog Lands, BRU Inalla Combo-Control, URG Maelstrom Wanderer Landfall
Exsanguinate was pretty good for me in my Dimir build. Torment of Hailfire would be in the same boat.
As odd as it sounds, Mystical Tutor can be useful if you need something else. Mission Briefing let's you cast your Rift again if you need it.
Pongify and Rapid Hybridization was be clutch (or any other 2 or less mana kill spell like Slaughter Pact or Go for the Throat).
Niv-Mizzet Reborn
Feather, the Redeemed
Estrid, the Masked
Teshar
Tymna/Ravos
Najeela, Blade-Blossom
Firesong & Sunspeaker
Zur the Enchanter
Lazav, the Multifarious
Ishai+Reyhan
Click images for decks->
-Prime Speaker Vannifar
---------------------Will & Rowan Kenrith
(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'
Yeah, I've been using Pull from Tomorrow with great success. I've even considered Epiphany at the Drownyard as a functional second copy. Read the Runes might be worth trying as well. Wouldn't be bad to have a kill spell like Pongify or Go for the Throat.
Yeva (88/92 foils)
Raff
Scarab
Rakdos
Wort ($50 budget, 94/97 foils)
Trostani
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
Building: Varina
Unfortunately, context = Scarab God, so Dimir cards only need apply.
Yeva (88/92 foils)
Raff
Scarab
Rakdos
Wort ($50 budget, 94/97 foils)
Trostani
My bad, missed that part.
Building: Varina
Lim-Dul's Vault
Mind Grind
Signature by Inkfox Aesthetics by Xen
[Modern] Allies
Curse of the Swine
Anyway, I don't get it.
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
Well, BSZ deals with P/T, Forced March does CMC. P/T is easy to mannipulate and P/T and cmc don't always correlate. For being less flexible and more expensive, Forced March is really quite *****.
That being said, I don't really get it either when damnation isn't all that expensive anymore. This isn't time spiral standard people. Spend the 25 bucks on a real boardwipe or less on a toxic deluge and move onward.
I believe it is because it deals with indestructible and Persist creatures. Also, it can be proliferated. Also, it shuffles back into the library, which I think is overrated by many magic players.
Because of these reasons, and because it is not expensive at all, I think it slots well into a casual deck-builder's deck.
I will note that you missed the upside of shrinking a general without killing it - example, Black Sun's Zenith is better for X=4 than any other boardwipe against Maelstrom Wanderer.
I played many years of magic refusing to spend more than 2$ on a card. Damnation is great, and more affordable than it was, but casual players will still often say it is not worth it.
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
Honorable mention to Magical Hack, for something no one will expect.
A Dying Wish
To Rise Again
Chainer, Dementia Master
Muldrotha, the Gravetide
Atraxa, Praetors' Voice
I'd say ixidron is significantly better as a "board wipe" against it, but it's a different color so I guess it's not really a fair comparison.
I don't think you need to compare BSZ to a relatively expensive card like damnation to see how overplayed it is - crux of fate sells for less than a dollar, and it's only 1 more mana than damnation. BSZ is over $3 on tcgplayer. Or there's necromatic selection, which has some major upside for a somewhat higher cost. Much more upside than BSZ, I'd say, and you're probably paying similar amounts of mana for it.
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
Mind Grind is a good idea. Added to the maybeboard.
Word is a pretty cool card, but way out of my budget. Not sure what Magical Hack would actually accomplish, maybe I'm missing something?
As for BSZ, it is certainly flexible and deals with a lot of problematic things. I actually used to run it in the first version of my deck, and I recall casting it for 4BB in one game that allowed TSG to live through it, which was pretty helpful.
Yeva (88/92 foils)
Raff
Scarab
Rakdos
Wort ($50 budget, 94/97 foils)
Trostani
I remember a BSZ for 5 making all my roaring dinosaur a bunch of 1/1 or 2/2. My poor Gishath became a 2/1 and was useless. It was almost like a mass extinction.
Yeah honestly it's an overrated card, but it's still good thanks to its versatility
On topic, i think it will be very useful for your deck, but spellseeker can tutor high tide and bubbling muck