So, what cards are people excited about in the set for THS block constructed? Here's a list of the ones' I'm keeping my eye on from the spoiler sheet to date:
(white)
Brimaz (!)
Fated retribution
God-favored general (?)
Loyal pegasus (? needs more hasty 2-drops)
(blue)
Whelming wave
Thassa's Rebuff (??)
Nullify
.....
[why is blue so sucky in this block? Why can't they print any blue card draw or deck manipulation? All they keep throwing out is useless giant sea monsters and highly, um, whelming spells]
(black)
Bile Blight (?)
Drown in Sorrow
Gild
Herald of Torment (!)
Pain seer (?)
(Red)
Fall of the hammer
Fated conflagration (!!! - most exciting card of the set so far)
Flame-wreathed phoenix
Searing Blood
(Green)
Aspect of the Hydra
Courser of Kruphix
Fated Intervention
Unravel the Aether
(Multicolour)
Ephara (? is this a UW heroic curve topper maybe??)
Fanatic of Xenagos
Kiora
Ragemonger (?)
Xenagos
So far Im not very impressed with the new set but to be honest I din't give much thought to the cards revealed to date (I have yet to read the bunch of cards revealed yesterday). Although some of the cards look great, like Bimaz.
Fated conflagration's triple R limits the card but in red heavy decks might have a strong place.
The new Gods seem underwhelming but they may get better if they reveal new cards that interact with them and increase their usefulness.
Anyway, I just hope we get more diversity and viability for THS Block Constructed at least.
i have yet to see anything that makes me optimistic that the RG stranglehold on the format will be broken anytime soon. The white weenie decks got a lot of good cards (brimaz, pegasus, more 2 drop options, nyxborn shieldmate, eidolon of countless battles), but I don't think those are enough to enable it to get around the RG ramp strategies. The creatures can't get around stormbreath, so it is not very realistic for you to beat a single copy of that supported by anything. Furthermore, black got a lot of cards that are very good against the weenie strategies, (Drown in sorrow, Bile blight) and do next to nothing against the ramp deck. A blue tempo deck is looking like it might almost exist, but I haven't layed out the cards yet to be able to see what it looks like.
Well I am looking at the spoiler in terms of what can help deal with GRw. So far, the four most impressive cards for helping control that deck are fated conflagration, Gild, whelming wave, and actually i think nullify is a stuffer. These cards up the counts for controlling the board state and slowing GRw down. Although they are all slow except the counter. They follow up hero's downfall, thoughtseize, lightning strike, and chained well enough to make an impact. GRw just has so many threats to answer. Perhaps these will help. PW's still get away but these will save black from shooting something with a downfall and save it for a PW. I'm feeling a bit better about mono black because of these cards. Any input?
Nullify hadn't been revealed when I originally posted that list (the spoiler was at 108), I definitely think that could be relevant.
I think what the set is doing is giving each of the main colour combinatinos a second card which answers the RG threats, which really is huge. Rather than having to rely on dissolve or hero's downfall to answer EVERYTHING, blue, black and red now have additional options in nullify, gild and fated conflagration. The latter is really big game imo, it kills every card in RGx except arbor colossus, that seems really important to me. Triple red is annoying, no doubt, but something like BR or UR control might be viable.
I've been testing this last week a Grixis Control deck based on the UWR Control Deck you commented in this article.
I currently don't have Elspeths so I switched to B. So far the results have been promising but Naya (and GR) is still a nasty matchupl. If these new additions level the field then I'll be VERY satisfied.
I've been testing this last week a Grixis Control deck based on the UWR Control Deck you commented in this article.
I currently don't have Elspeths so I switched to B. So far the results have been promising but Naya (and GR) is still a nasty matchupl. If these new additions level the field then I'll be VERY satisfied.
I don't think red will add much to those two colors. Fated con is just too haywire in mana. But I do think blue and black have enough answers and work well together. I hope to see that control shell develop.
Other thoughts:
Spring leaf drum: I think this will have a large impact in giving non green players ramp with an early creature. With the likes of siren of silent song, pain seer, and ashioks disciple, its abuse could really be mean.
Arbiter sphinx: a possible finisher for blue control and a nasty follow up to prof sphinx. There comb is likely game ending. But it's big enough to stop dragon and a 4\5 flyer who draws cards is certainly in consideration for me.
Standard I dont see it being very good as there are many tools to deal with it. In block there are only a few. Good enough for Dimir?
Siren of the Silent Song is another one I'm interested in trying in a Dimir control shell. I think it will bring some much needed disruption. The one power isn't a concern of mine as its just going to fly over everything anyhow.
When its all said and done with a psudo-sweeper in [CARD]Whelming Wave
[/CARD] Disruption via Siren of the Silent and Nullify I think dimir, in a vacuum, looks promising.
I think that what dimir lacked, it got. however what it struggled against it might struggle even more. We'll see.
Standard I dont see it being very good as there are many tools to deal with it. In block there are only a few. Good enough for Dimir?
Siren of the Silent Song is another one I'm interested in trying in a Dimir control shell. I think it will bring some much needed disruption. The one power isn't a concern of mine as its just going to fly over everything anyhow.
When its all said and done with a psudo-sweeper in [CARD]Whelming Wave
[/CARD] Disruption via Siren of the Silent and Nullify I think dimir, in a vacuum, looks promising.
I think that what dimir lacked, it got. however what it struggled against it might struggle even more. We'll see.
I agree. Dimir looks good. Even asphyxiate counts as a kill card with baleful eidolon on the ground or a turn after the creature is played. All in all I think there is enough between the kill spells, bounces, counters, and card draw to make something work. Phenax, most unfortunately, will be unlikely a impactful card in UB in my opinion. As a 5 drop he just is too slow vs GR and does nothing to deal with threats or create threats the turn he enter the board.
Archetype of Imagination will likely be one of the "the" limited bombs of the format. CCCCUU for a enchant creature with 3/2 that gives everyone you have flying while denying your opponent flying altogether?
Reach and enchantment removal will be more important than ever.
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He is the only one who sees the patterns in the overlapping maps and conflicting reports.
Archetype of Imagination will likely be one of the "the" limited bombs of the format. CCCCUU for a enchant creature with 3/2 that gives everyone you have flying while denying your opponent flying altogether?
Reach and enchantment removal will be more important than ever.
Obviously we aren't talking about limited, although the formats can be similar at first
Unless Mono B makes a come back I think any hope of the GWR menace is going to come from a new archetype (which might be just as dominant) or from action from Wizards in about 2 hours. Sadly no ban will help unless they ban Elspeth which would be horrible for selling the set.
My breakdown:
Acolyte's Reward - Solid damage for white. If Brimaz.dec is real, then this gives reach against blockers, PW and Players.
Akroan Skyguard - Heroic can use this. Evasion for the win.
Brimaz will be tried. I don't see him in traditional heroic aggro, but some kind of other White or White x aggro could get him in the game.
Excoriate isn't really strong enough.
Fated Retribution cost too much to be really useful.
Glimpse the Sun God - Could be a finisher for Brimaz.dec
God-Favored General needs some love, but Springleaf Drum says make me soldiers wench.
Mortal's Ardor would have been a sweet aura.
Ornitharch could actually see play. There was a similar card a couple blocks ago (The landfall angel from Zen) that saw play. This reminds me of that.
Revoke Existence is HUGE in dealing with god cards. Doesn't help w/ walkers though
Vangard could go in Heroic or Brimaz.dec.
Arbiter of Ideal slots in to finish in Blue x if its a real deck, but the ability is kinda win more.
Crypsys could go in UW Heroic, but to me it's really for the Cyclops/Kiln Fiend decks in Pauper
Eternity Snare - Just commenting because it costs 6??? Limited fodder at best.
Meletis Astronomer - I would slot this in UW heroic just because it has a 3 butt and keeps the gas coming.
Nullify - If Blue has a saving grace it's this. WTB "Or planeswalker" but they wouldn't do that would they? It would see play in a LOT of formats if that was the case.
Stratus Walk is decent for UW Heroic.
Thassa's Rebuff is kind of like a mini leak. Not feeling it. Might make someone pay 1-2?
Whelming Wave - Does a number on tokens (Elspeth, Brimaz), but I can totally see dumping this and then using her to refill the board.
Bile Blight is straight small creature removal. Not really huge in this block unless aggro can really make a comeback.
Would have loved if Gild said "Permanent" but alas still nothing to help w/ PW.
Akroan Conscriptor - I could see this as SB material in a lot of red decks. I'll take your hydra.. Thanks.
Epiphany Storm - Another enabler, although does Red need it? Perhaps that Grixis control deck? Seems like Springleaf drum would be better unless you need devotion to red.
Fellhide spirit binder - Now this I like in some kind of WUR Control shell.
People will try out both the Phoenix and the Dragon and see which one might be better. If I had to bet, I'd put it on the Phoenix. Depending on how often tribute gets paid.
Satyr Firedancer could go in that same shell with Sprit Binder.
Scouring Sands, SB material vs Tokens. Prob unneeded.
Stormcaller of Keranos - Scry = to my blue mana. Ok
Aspect of the Hydra is fun, but probably unneeded.
Courser of Kruphix - Will slot into just about anything green.
Hero of Leina Tower - Not so sure about this one. Is Green really targeting its own creatures in this block? Are you playing another non red color w/ this?
Hunter's Prowess - Makes that whole targeting trample theme work, but I still think this is a limited card.
Karametra's Favor- by far the best enabler because it replaces itself.
Peregrination is a decent ramp spell. I don't know that we see people play it over mana dorks.
Unravel the Æther - Green's answer to god cards. Still nothing for PW.
Ephara's Enlightenment - I like this in UW heroic, but not as a 4 of.
Fanatic of Xenagos - Nice Hasty GR beats. (or 4/4 trample)
Karametra, God of Harvests - I think this is one of the easier ones to turn on, too bad it doesn't do much for this block.
Mogis, God of Slaughter - Here's to that BR(u)? Control deck. I love this card.
Xenagos, God of Revels - more suited as a finisher for gr aggro (vs the ramp decks we see now) I think most ppl just play the walker.
Pillar of War - test this in heroic. not sure if its good enough.
Springleaf Drum - the enabler of tap creatures.
All in all unless some kind of control deck emerges that can handle walkers asap I don't see GRw's dominance ending.
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Out of the blackness and stench of the engulfing swamp emerged a shimmering figure. Only the splattered armor and ichor-stained sword hinted at the unfathomable evil the knight had just laid waste.
Basically, the combination of Prophet of Kruphix and Phenax creates an obscenely fast clock. Even if the opponent removes one of them ASAP, leaving the other on the board is still a major threat capable of winning games anyway.
That's on top of packing Green stompy creatures that are already trouble, but doubly when they're milling you with Phenax. And that on top of UBs control package, which is broad enough to adjust to the meta however it develops.
Dethroning meta-dominating decks doesn't happen only by printing hate. It can also happen when other decks rise in power enough or pressure the deck's weaknesses enough to lower its win ratio. BUG always had strong enough control to hold others at bay for a while, but now it has some great win conditions and extreme synergies, possibly making it a key competitor moving forward.
Basically, the combination of Prophet of Kruphix and Phenax creates an obscenely fast clock. Even if the opponent removes one of them ASAP, leaving the other on the board is still a major threat capable of winning games anyway.
That's on top of packing Green stompy creatures that are already trouble, but doubly when they're milling you with Phenax. And that on top of UBs control package, which is broad enough to adjust to the meta however it develops.
Dethroning meta-dominating decks doesn't happen only by printing hate. It can also happen when other decks rise in power enough or pressure the deck's weaknesses enough to lower its win ratio. BUG always had strong enough control to hold others at bay for a while, but now it has some great win conditions and extreme synergies, possibly making it a key competitor moving forward.
Surely Phenax can't be playable in block, at least not if it looks anything like it did pre-BNG. Prophet + phenax is cute, but you're playing two cards there that don't impact the board in a format where GR will quite easily kill you in two combat steps. There's no way you outrace that with a milling plan that only gets enabled by a five mana 2/3. GR also plays lightning strike which laughs at prophet. I'm certainly open to the idea of some sort of controlling dimir deck post-BNG, but I doubt phenax is going to be anything but maybe a sideboard card against slower decks.
Surely Phenax can't be playable in block, at least not if it looks anything like it did pre-BNG. Prophet + phenax is cute, but you're playing two cards there that don't impact the board in a format where GR will quite easily kill you in two combat steps. There's no way you outrace that with a milling plan that only gets enabled by a five mana 2/3. GR also plays lightning strike which laughs at prophet. I'm certainly open to the idea of some sort of controlling dimir deck post-BNG, but I doubt phenax is going to be anything but maybe a sideboard card against slower decks.
I agree. Also, seeing that only black is slow I don't see it being played much if at all. I am more interested in seeing the GU play tempo. O and courser is going to be great.
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(white)
Brimaz (!)
Fated retribution
God-favored general (?)
Loyal pegasus (? needs more hasty 2-drops)
(blue)
Whelming wave
Thassa's Rebuff (??)
Nullify
.....
[why is blue so sucky in this block? Why can't they print any blue card draw or deck manipulation? All they keep throwing out is useless giant sea monsters and highly, um, whelming spells]
(black)
Bile Blight (?)
Drown in Sorrow
Gild
Herald of Torment (!)
Pain seer (?)
(Red)
Fall of the hammer
Fated conflagration (!!! - most exciting card of the set so far)
Flame-wreathed phoenix
Searing Blood
(Green)
Aspect of the Hydra
Courser of Kruphix
Fated Intervention
Unravel the Aether
(Multicolour)
Ephara (? is this a UW heroic curve topper maybe??)
Fanatic of Xenagos
Kiora
Ragemonger (?)
Xenagos
Fated conflagration's triple R limits the card but in red heavy decks might have a strong place.
The new Gods seem underwhelming but they may get better if they reveal new cards that interact with them and increase their usefulness.
Anyway, I just hope we get more diversity and viability for THS Block Constructed at least.
I think what the set is doing is giving each of the main colour combinatinos a second card which answers the RG threats, which really is huge. Rather than having to rely on dissolve or hero's downfall to answer EVERYTHING, blue, black and red now have additional options in nullify, gild and fated conflagration. The latter is really big game imo, it kills every card in RGx except arbor colossus, that seems really important to me. Triple red is annoying, no doubt, but something like BR or UR control might be viable.
I currently don't have Elspeths so I switched to B. So far the results have been promising but Naya (and GR) is still a nasty matchupl. If these new additions level the field then I'll be VERY satisfied.
I don't think red will add much to those two colors. Fated con is just too haywire in mana. But I do think blue and black have enough answers and work well together. I hope to see that control shell develop.
Other thoughts:
Spring leaf drum: I think this will have a large impact in giving non green players ramp with an early creature. With the likes of siren of silent song, pain seer, and ashioks disciple, its abuse could really be mean.
Arbiter sphinx: a possible finisher for blue control and a nasty follow up to prof sphinx. There comb is likely game ending. But it's big enough to stop dragon and a 4\5 flyer who draws cards is certainly in consideration for me.
Standard I dont see it being very good as there are many tools to deal with it. In block there are only a few. Good enough for Dimir?
Siren of the Silent Song is another one I'm interested in trying in a Dimir control shell. I think it will bring some much needed disruption. The one power isn't a concern of mine as its just going to fly over everything anyhow.
When its all said and done with a psudo-sweeper in [CARD]Whelming Wave
[/CARD] Disruption via Siren of the Silent and Nullify I think dimir, in a vacuum, looks promising.
I think that what dimir lacked, it got. however what it struggled against it might struggle even more. We'll see.
I agree. Dimir looks good. Even asphyxiate counts as a kill card with baleful eidolon on the ground or a turn after the creature is played. All in all I think there is enough between the kill spells, bounces, counters, and card draw to make something work. Phenax, most unfortunately, will be unlikely a impactful card in UB in my opinion. As a 5 drop he just is too slow vs GR and does nothing to deal with threats or create threats the turn he enter the board.
Reach and enchantment removal will be more important than ever.
He is the only one who sees the patterns in the overlapping maps and conflicting reports.
Obviously we aren't talking about limited, although the formats can be similar at first
Unless Mono B makes a come back I think any hope of the GWR menace is going to come from a new archetype (which might be just as dominant) or from action from Wizards in about 2 hours. Sadly no ban will help unless they ban Elspeth which would be horrible for selling the set.
My breakdown:
Acolyte's Reward - Solid damage for white. If Brimaz.dec is real, then this gives reach against blockers, PW and Players.
Akroan Skyguard - Heroic can use this. Evasion for the win.
Brimaz will be tried. I don't see him in traditional heroic aggro, but some kind of other White or White x aggro could get him in the game.
Excoriate isn't really strong enough.
Fated Retribution cost too much to be really useful.
Glimpse the Sun God - Could be a finisher for Brimaz.dec
God-Favored General needs some love, but Springleaf Drum says make me soldiers wench.
Mortal's Ardor would have been a sweet aura.
Ornitharch could actually see play. There was a similar card a couple blocks ago (The landfall angel from Zen) that saw play. This reminds me of that.
Revoke Existence is HUGE in dealing with god cards. Doesn't help w/ walkers though
Vangard could go in Heroic or Brimaz.dec.
Arbiter of Ideal slots in to finish in Blue x if its a real deck, but the ability is kinda win more.
Crypsys could go in UW Heroic, but to me it's really for the Cyclops/Kiln Fiend decks in Pauper
Eternity Snare - Just commenting because it costs 6??? Limited fodder at best.
Meletis Astronomer - I would slot this in UW heroic just because it has a 3 butt and keeps the gas coming.
Nullify - If Blue has a saving grace it's this. WTB "Or planeswalker" but they wouldn't do that would they? It would see play in a LOT of formats if that was the case.
Stratus Walk is decent for UW Heroic.
Thassa's Rebuff is kind of like a mini leak. Not feeling it. Might make someone pay 1-2?
Whelming Wave - Does a number on tokens (Elspeth, Brimaz), but I can totally see dumping this and then using her to refill the board.
Bile Blight is straight small creature removal. Not really huge in this block unless aggro can really make a comeback.
Would have loved if Gild said "Permanent" but alas still nothing to help w/ PW.
Akroan Conscriptor - I could see this as SB material in a lot of red decks. I'll take your hydra.. Thanks.
Epiphany Storm - Another enabler, although does Red need it? Perhaps that Grixis control deck? Seems like Springleaf drum would be better unless you need devotion to red.
Fellhide spirit binder - Now this I like in some kind of WUR Control shell.
People will try out both the Phoenix and the Dragon and see which one might be better. If I had to bet, I'd put it on the Phoenix. Depending on how often tribute gets paid.
Satyr Firedancer could go in that same shell with Sprit Binder.
Scouring Sands, SB material vs Tokens. Prob unneeded.
Stormcaller of Keranos - Scry = to my blue mana. Ok
Aspect of the Hydra is fun, but probably unneeded.
Courser of Kruphix - Will slot into just about anything green.
Hero of Leina Tower - Not so sure about this one. Is Green really targeting its own creatures in this block? Are you playing another non red color w/ this?
Hunter's Prowess - Makes that whole targeting trample theme work, but I still think this is a limited card.
Karametra's Favor- by far the best enabler because it replaces itself.
Peregrination is a decent ramp spell. I don't know that we see people play it over mana dorks.
Unravel the Æther - Green's answer to god cards. Still nothing for PW.
Ephara's Enlightenment - I like this in UW heroic, but not as a 4 of.
Fanatic of Xenagos - Nice Hasty GR beats. (or 4/4 trample)
Karametra, God of Harvests - I think this is one of the easier ones to turn on, too bad it doesn't do much for this block.
Mogis, God of Slaughter - Here's to that BR(u)? Control deck. I love this card.
Xenagos, God of Revels - more suited as a finisher for gr aggro (vs the ramp decks we see now) I think most ppl just play the walker.
Pillar of War - test this in heroic. not sure if its good enough.
Springleaf Drum - the enabler of tap creatures.
All in all unless some kind of control deck emerges that can handle walkers asap I don't see GRw's dominance ending.
Basically, the combination of Prophet of Kruphix and Phenax creates an obscenely fast clock. Even if the opponent removes one of them ASAP, leaving the other on the board is still a major threat capable of winning games anyway.
That's on top of packing Green stompy creatures that are already trouble, but doubly when they're milling you with Phenax. And that on top of UBs control package, which is broad enough to adjust to the meta however it develops.
Dethroning meta-dominating decks doesn't happen only by printing hate. It can also happen when other decks rise in power enough or pressure the deck's weaknesses enough to lower its win ratio. BUG always had strong enough control to hold others at bay for a while, but now it has some great win conditions and extreme synergies, possibly making it a key competitor moving forward.
Surely Phenax can't be playable in block, at least not if it looks anything like it did pre-BNG. Prophet + phenax is cute, but you're playing two cards there that don't impact the board in a format where GR will quite easily kill you in two combat steps. There's no way you outrace that with a milling plan that only gets enabled by a five mana 2/3. GR also plays lightning strike which laughs at prophet. I'm certainly open to the idea of some sort of controlling dimir deck post-BNG, but I doubt phenax is going to be anything but maybe a sideboard card against slower decks.
I agree. Also, seeing that only black is slow I don't see it being played much if at all. I am more interested in seeing the GU play tempo. O and courser is going to be great.