Undercity Plague looks dangerous, I'm starting to think everyone's going to be packing the counterspells to stop these Cipher's getting on the board. The potential for this card to do repeated damage makes it a clear card to fear in pretty much all formats.
As for confessor, it's still one of the better Orzhov cards spoiled so far. The potential to bounce it can lead to repeated exile out opponents hands if needed, and Orzhov have enough ways to get the life needed to pull this off. The only reason we get a creature instead of a sorcery with an additional cost is to give us another permanent with extort (which is what we want). 1/3 body only matters if you imagine your going to use this guy in a combat situation - an issue in limited but not elsewhere. Exiling Thragtusk or Thundermaw Hellkite from their hand is better than dealing with them when their on the board.
The fact we spoiled yet another card that creatures copies today (Stolen Identity) makes me think this is going to be a more manageable win condition despite first impressions. If we can just convince people to stop playing removal this will be the bomb. WOTC mission is now clear.
Looking at the translated text I was wondering whether there's a requirement to show the selected card to your opponent. Could you shuffle the cards, put them face down and roll a dice to select or does violate a rule somewhere?
Not a huge point, I know, but it could make a difference in how it plays and which cards you select, for instance restoration loses a bit of play your opponent knows you have it in hand.
Definitely agree with the Mark Rosewater quote on the first page. That said, in this situation, having it be random is probably actually better than having your opponent chose which creature you get, since at least that way you are more likely to actually get the creature you want. Don't like the fact that the other 2 don't go to the yard though. There are a lot of weird instances so far where cards are put back into your library instead of into your graveyard that are non-intuitive to me. Would it really be to good if 2 of them went to the yard?
There's so much graveyard love in stand right now, that getting 2 cards in the graveyard and 1 in hand would be 2 good. This card would strictly better than Jarad's Orders by a long way.
A useful limited card for Boros, but little reason to splash it or push in other formats unfortunately. Still you wouldn't want to face down a large Boros force with this guy and a buttload of untapped lands. Plus Boros needed a repeatable way to make cheap creature tokens, though I still feel they could have shaved 1 off his second ability.
Basically this is this sets Fall of the Gravel where we get 2 effects we want, but unfortunately for a price you'd rather not pay. Still this will probably be picked a little higher in limited than Fall, assuming there's enough costly cards or strong 2 card combos to make it worth rushing to several lands.
Dimir just keeps getting stronger and stronger. A pair of Mind Grinds late in the game could finish off a player in two turns without needing many mill cards. Once we couple them with other mill effects we could have a fast mill deck emerging here. As for stolen identity it similarly could get out of hand fast. The more I see of Dimir the more I think the metagame will adapt around playing/dealing with it in constructed - and there's still a few mythic rares to reveal.
Ultimately anything with double strike is going to be strong in a set with bloodrush. Definately a card to be fearful of in limited, and not many keyrunes thusfar can say that.
Just the sort of charm you want. Counterspell or removal in the right circumstances with a powerful third ability that could be useful any time. Charms with three usable abilties will always to main deckable in their respective colours, and will certainly be usable in other places.
How come all the guildmages just reek of awesomeness. I can definitely see this guy being a pack 1 pick 1 in limited, and standard will need to adjust to him. With the Simic looking sweet as well the pressure is on, Sunhome Guildmage you better step up.
Deep down I'm pretty sure my opponents were already encouraged to chump block my 6/6 anyway, I don't particularly want to give them any life for the privalege. Sure this will be a big fatty in the mid game, but already Gatecrash has demonstrated a couple of other potentially huge fatties in Rubblehulk and Consuming Aberation. Being large 6/6 might not matter by turn 8 and if my opponents are gaining life through blocking that's going to increase the number of spells I need to cast before I extort them to death. Perhaps this card is designed to splashed into a Dimir or Boros deck. I certainly doubt it's going to get much play outside of limited.
That said it's too early to tell what's left for Orzhov. I have to say that the spoilers so far don't look anywhere near as exciting as the other guilds, but perhaps wizards are holding back some really good W/B cards.
I'n on the fence about this one. This looks like a really strong mechanic, definitely sexier than the others on paper, but it remains to be seen how well it plays. I wonder whether we will see any versions of Cipher on instants, as otherwise invisible stalker/ spirit decks will be the main guys looking to utilise it. In limited, Ciphering will just lead to loads of 2 for 1's people will be able to play around them.
The pre release will be interesting as this seems to be the combined complexity of nivmagus elemental and haunt, both of which confused players about how they were meant to be played. I guess at least one mechanic has to have some complexity.
I'n on the fence about this one. This looks like a really strong mechanic, definitely sexier than the others on paper, but it remains to be seen how well it plays. I wonder whether we will see any versions of Cipher on instants, as otherwise invisible stalker/ spirit decks will be the main guys looking to utilise it. In limited, Ciphering will just lead to loads of 2 for 1's people will be able to play around them.
The pre release will be interesting as this seems to be the combined complexity of nivmagus elemental and haunt, both of which confused players about how they were meant to be played. I guess at least one mechanic has to have some complexity.
Pretty much what I expected for a Boros mechanic, much more fitting for the legion than radiance was. I have to say that a 3/3 flyer with a free potential free lightning helix each attack step for 4 seems incredibly strong, I think life Firemane Angel more than Aurelia.
As for confessor, it's still one of the better Orzhov cards spoiled so far. The potential to bounce it can lead to repeated exile out opponents hands if needed, and Orzhov have enough ways to get the life needed to pull this off. The only reason we get a creature instead of a sorcery with an additional cost is to give us another permanent with extort (which is what we want). 1/3 body only matters if you imagine your going to use this guy in a combat situation - an issue in limited but not elsewhere. Exiling Thragtusk or Thundermaw Hellkite from their hand is better than dealing with them when their on the board.
Not a huge point, I know, but it could make a difference in how it plays and which cards you select, for instance restoration loses a bit of play your opponent knows you have it in hand.
There's so much graveyard love in stand right now, that getting 2 cards in the graveyard and 1 in hand would be 2 good. This card would strictly better than Jarad's Orders by a long way.
Ultimately anything with double strike is going to be strong in a set with bloodrush. Definately a card to be fearful of in limited, and not many keyrunes thusfar can say that.
That said it's too early to tell what's left for Orzhov. I have to say that the spoilers so far don't look anywhere near as exciting as the other guilds, but perhaps wizards are holding back some really good W/B cards.
The pre release will be interesting as this seems to be the combined complexity of nivmagus elemental and haunt, both of which confused players about how they were meant to be played. I guess at least one mechanic has to have some complexity.
The pre release will be interesting as this seems to be the combined complexity of nivmagus elemental and haunt, both of which confused players about how they were meant to be played. I guess at least one mechanic has to have some complexity.