So we now know what Urza does. WUBRG is certainly a tricky puzzle to solve, and the randomness of the abilities can be a turn off, especially with the nonbo of creating 3/3s with "-1: Urza deals 3 damage to each creature." However, Urza is not without his upsides either. He can Ultimate fast. Very few of the abilities look like they have a chance to whiff (notably, "+1: Look at the top five cards of your library. You may reveal an artifact card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order." can be bad if you're not building around it.)
It's interesting, but WURBG is a *tall* order. On top of that, it being so random makes it hard to guarantee what kind of deck would want it. Doesn't really appeal to me at all, even if it is rad as ****.
I just want to stop in and say that foils of this are going for near 100 bucks. What is even happening? New black bordered standard legal planeswalkers don't even presell for that.
@asmallcat: It seems there are 20 different abilities for each activation. He pulls from several planeswalkers, but I don't think Tibalt is one of them.
Much like the Conspiracy sets, stores aren't rushing to open product, meaning foil mythics of this set are going to be expensive; this, coupled with the fact that Urza is the most iconic Magic character ever printed means there is a large casual demand for this card.
I myself got a copy for ~70 USD, and I'm going to test him in my list with the caveat that players can simply choose whichever ability they want rather than pray to the RNG gods.
I just want to stop in and say that foils of this are going for near 100 bucks. What is even happening? New black bordered standard legal planeswalkers don't even presell for that.
The set did just come out, I agree that's insane but this pretty much happens to some degree for every set. Not that degree!, but more so I'd expect it to drop. A percentage of it probably has to do with EDH too, but again I don't imagine that sustaining.
Wizards has created a printable guide for this card with all its abilities, numbered for the purpose of rolling a d20.
If your concerns are with the requirement of an internet connection, this resolves that, as well as adding the fun of rolling dice... and buffing Krark's Other Thumb which I am running due to my contraption-assembling errata.
If you are concerned about power level for the high cost of WURBG, I think that this becomes much more playable if you get to pick which ability to use when activating. So I think I will be testing Urza in my un-spiracy module with the small errata of grabbing this sheet and picking what you'd like. Feels more like insane wizard Urza thinking for a moment and doing whatever he wants every turn instead of awkwardly pumping your team in a control deck, etc.
Hold on now, having a planeswalker with 60 abilities you can pick from wily-nily is overpowered.
I'm all for using the pdf and a d20, but I would also not initially shun a player for picking the 3 abilities right after deckbuilding and/or prematch up, but not midmatch after already choosing a different result for the same loyalty counter update.
I'm still a little iffy about letting someone run around with a planeswalker that would reliably be:
+1: Destroy noncreature permanent
-1: Gain control of target creature
-6: You get an emblem with “Whenever you cast a spell, exile target permanent.
I think the joke of it is that Urza became a senile old planeswalker. "Remember when I condensed Serra's plane?""I ever tell you about how I was a pillar of chromatic light for an extended period of time?" "Sidar Kondo was a good lad, but we were under the impression that his son died at my academy, so I gave him great, great...great grandson. Those were simpler times back then." I miss stomping around in those mech suits all armed with nukes...I miss having a body...but not a family! I've had it up to here with family!"
Urza, Academy Headmaster has been fun for us, not amazing but a lot of fun. So far we have been using askurza.com but I am considering trying something different to make his a bit more of a payoff for going 5 colour. It just really sucks when you play him in your sweet 5-colour deck and keep whiffing on activations.
My current thinking is letting players choose the effect but only use each once a night, it might be a bit wonkey but it stops him becoming too linear and since it's an un-card I am fine with it.
So we now know what Urza does. WUBRG is certainly a tricky puzzle to solve, and the randomness of the abilities can be a turn off, especially with the nonbo of creating 3/3s with "-1: Urza deals 3 damage to each creature." However, Urza is not without his upsides either. He can Ultimate fast. Very few of the abilities look like they have a chance to whiff (notably, "+1: Look at the top five cards of your library. You may reveal an artifact card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order." can be bad if you're not building around it.)
I think with some support (Oath of Nissa, Chromatic Lantern) this could be good.
[180 classic cube]
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-1 you get an emblem "creatures you control get +1/+1
=6 Gain 100 life
Sadly it changes every time you pick an ability, but I'd say I have some mighty fine luck with him.
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
Edit - so does he just pull from any PW? If so, can you imagine hitting Tibalt abilities? lol.
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
@asmallcat: It seems there are 20 different abilities for each activation. He pulls from several planeswalkers, but I don't think Tibalt is one of them.
MTGS Average Peasant Cube 2023 Edition
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I myself got a copy for ~70 USD, and I'm going to test him in my list with the caveat that players can simply choose whichever ability they want rather than pray to the RNG gods.
Check out the Cube Discord channel here
The set did just come out, I agree that's insane but this pretty much happens to some degree for every set. Not that degree!, but more so I'd expect it to drop. A percentage of it probably has to do with EDH too, but again I don't imagine that sustaining.
Also, follow us on twitter! @TurnOneMagic
Wizards has created a printable guide for this card with all its abilities, numbered for the purpose of rolling a d20.
If your concerns are with the requirement of an internet connection, this resolves that, as well as adding the fun of rolling dice... and buffing Krark's Other Thumb which I am running due to my contraption-assembling errata.
If you are concerned about power level for the high cost of WURBG, I think that this becomes much more playable if you get to pick which ability to use when activating. So I think I will be testing Urza in my un-spiracy module with the small errata of grabbing this sheet and picking what you'd like. Feels more like insane wizard Urza thinking for a moment and doing whatever he wants every turn instead of awkwardly pumping your team in a control deck, etc.
This is still the best place for high-power-level cube chat & debate.
Here's to many more years at MTGS *clink*
I'm all for using the pdf and a d20, but I would also not initially shun a player for picking the 3 abilities right after deckbuilding and/or prematch up, but not midmatch after already choosing a different result for the same loyalty counter update.
I'm still a little iffy about letting someone run around with a planeswalker that would reliably be:
+1: Destroy noncreature permanent
-1: Gain control of target creature
-6: You get an emblem with “Whenever you cast a spell, exile target permanent.
I think the joke of it is that Urza became a senile old planeswalker. "Remember when I condensed Serra's plane?""I ever tell you about how I was a pillar of chromatic light for an extended period of time?" "Sidar Kondo was a good lad, but we were under the impression that his son died at my academy, so I gave him great, great...great grandson. Those were simpler times back then." I miss stomping around in those mech suits all armed with nukes...I miss having a body...but not a family! I've had it up to here with family!"
My current thinking is letting players choose the effect but only use each once a night, it might be a bit wonkey but it stops him becoming too linear and since it's an un-card I am fine with it.