Yidris is probably the most boring of all the new face commanders, as far as design goes. Its powerful, yeah, but it's as bland as unsweetened soy milk. Meh....
After having much fun playing Reckoner again, I'm going back to Drouble Dragons these days.
Not a single match in the last weeks Reckoner did more than dealing sometimes 3damage :x run into too many Abrupt Decays, PtEs and stuff
4xSoM Koths for me as well. The funny thing is, I never really paid much attention to the different arts before it was mentioned here. After evaluating both arts I prefer SoM version over the DD version. I like the fact that his power is understated in the SoM art. It is a perfect reflection of the hidden power of Skred Red deck as a whole, in the aspect that people don't Perceive it as being powerful until they lose to it.
In regards to Reckoner, I agree with others here that Reckoner gets worse in the build the more developed that your local meta is. This is coming from someone who absolutely LOVES Reckoner as a card. I just can't justify playing him against my meta when so much of the removal in meta nerfs his strong points.
That being said I'm still not entirely sold on Eternal Scourge as our go to 3 drop Koth protector, despite the fact that it plays nice with our Relics. It has been pretty good in testing but it doesn't quite have the umph! that we need from our 3 drop. It depends on too many other variables to be good. Subsequently, it's not something we would want to run more than 2 main board in most builds.
Hopefully, soon we can crack the code and find the right creature for that slot. If we're lucky, maybe we'll get something in one of the upcoming sets that will fit.
I used to run Mind Stone all the way. Now I only see it as a waste of space in the deck and hand. Going from turn 2 to turn 4 in mana RARELY wins games. If you want explosiveness in the first turns, SSG is way better since you can T2 Blood Moon or still T3 Koth like with stone. If you just want to not have mana problems or casting high CC (like Ugin, Chandra Flamecaller, Wurmcoil...), Koth and Magma Jets (at least 3) does that job. I've been saying this for a long time (since the old thread) and ofc completely agree.
Personally I don't like running the SSG's either, but that's mainly personal taste. But my reasoning is that I don't like topdecking him later on in the game, and he's more oft than not gonna be card disadvantage.
The nice thing about mind stone is that it can cycle in the late game, but when it just provides inferior lines early, what's the point?
Sure, it can allow us to accelerate our clock vs things like scapeshift, but rabblemaster already does a better job, and he pairs better with SSG.
After testing and listening to your responses, I have continually felt underwhelmed dropping a Mind Stone turn 2. Even when I know that it will lead to a Turn 3 Blood Moon. Reading your post just solidifies that feeling. SSG is the way to go for me. Especially since i'm running Rabbles out of the sideboard against control and combo. That being said there have been multiple occasions that cycling a through a Mindstone on turn 5, or later, has drawn me the sweeper or threat that I needed to turn the tables.
If your running a more top-heavy list with wurmcoils, godos, 4+ 5cmc threats, and an ugin or something. Then it makes some sense. But the strength of 2cmc rocks is their ability to pump out 4cmc threats on T3, and again, that just isn't what we really want to be doing.
In any case, I'd argue such a deck is simply too top-heavy to begin with.
I totally agree. I run a single Ugin simply because I'm too greedy. The satisfaction of turn 4 ugin is too good to not run it IMHO. Although, a 3rd Stormbreath Dragon or Magma Jet are currently vying for his spot.
The other upside to Simian Spirit Guide is it lets you play Goblin Rabblemasters out of the sideboard. A turn 2 Rabblemaster is a huge deal against combo decks that our removal can't interact with. I think this is pretty important in a larger tournament where you can't just hope to dodge bad matchups all day.
^^This 100x. Goblin Rabblemaster out of the sideboard is just too good with SSG. I expect to win a lot of Game 2's this way.
Hi guys! As a fellow Skred player, I am still on the fence about running Mind Stone over Simian Spirit Guide. The question that perplexes me is, Is a turn 2-3 Blood Moon via SSG worth more the conditional cantrip and semi permanent ramp that Mind Stone gives? I would highly appreciate your opinions and any reasoning behind the formation of said opinions.
There is so much variance in the Skred Red Decklists I've seen, it's kind of a daunting task to commit to a particular shell. Reading your posts have helped me a great deal. I appreciate all of the information and discussion that you guys have compiled here.
Back on topic though, this does make it look like GR werewolves might be a thing after rotation. Hopefully it out pans better than minotaur tribal did during Theros standard.
Why is this card white? Is this a new addition to white's slice of the color pie. Are the any relevant card comparisons? I've only been playing for 3 years now so any insight would be greatly appreciated.
The first is parasitic. The second changes the rules of Magic. The third has never been done before. Pick your poison.
I must confess I really wish people would stop
saying this.
Parasitic is an R&D tearm that means the idea
is "too self-contained". That is, players cannot
look at cards and imagine many things they can do
with them.
The problem with overly parasitic design is R&D
is building our decks...
...THIS is not the same as a "new mechanic".
We demonstrate being "too paracitic" if once
you commit to a waste or a Kozi you're forced
to fill you deck with as much of it as possible.
In fact, in some ways, something can be parasitic
but not TOO parasitic, provided there are "common"
and "uncommon" support cards.
...um, we already see a common support card, WASTES.
And, we have, for now, only three cards of nearly 200.
And all three of them have <> (though two are mythic).
Remember, linear cards are not inherently bad!
For a while it seemed we were going to get "new" slivers
every year... (then core sets left us).
There was a time in magic, when the first "multicolored card"
were printed in Legends...
...that didn't mean it was "too parasitic".
A) You didn't say "Oh" I'm running Nicol Bolas so I want
all the elder dragons in my deck...
B) One could imagine it returning (it did).
In this case, running 3 wastes doesn't make it so
your deck is clearly better if it could run 6! (In fact,
unless there are nearly 40% of the set with <> based
cards, it's just not true as each Waste prevents you
from drawing a land that produces colored mana.
Likewise, running two eldrazi or three that have
<>'s in their cost...doesn't make your deck become
"better" by running more.
Finally, there's lot of future design space that
can use <> in the same way that "tapping" as a cost
was found to have other ways to be used after the
change to it from "mono-artifacts" LOL
So for those saying it is "too parasitic" ...can
you explain and explore how so specifically
rather than just repeating the claim?
Great post. I only wish that I could have stated this argument as eloquently and concisely as you have. It's a shame that this post will do nothing to quell the abundant fear mongering and lack of imagination that is pervading this discussion.
The <> cards don't need reminder text if <> is simply a 6th \color\"less" basic land. We don't need reminder text for cards that require us to tap a mountain for red mana do we?
Edit: Sometimes the most elegant solution is the simplest one as well.
Does the spoiling of From Beyond today lend any credence to the legitimacy, or lack there of, of this card being real? I cant decide either way because, while the cards seem similar in function, they still do different things. Also, they are at different CMC and color. If this is real then it seems quite pushed in comparison to From Beyond. A little too pushed for my taste to be honest.
EDIT: Srry. Didn't read the last few posts before replying.Seems some of you are asking the same question.
4xSoM Koths for me as well. The funny thing is, I never really paid much attention to the different arts before it was mentioned here. After evaluating both arts I prefer SoM version over the DD version. I like the fact that his power is understated in the SoM art. It is a perfect reflection of the hidden power of Skred Red deck as a whole, in the aspect that people don't Perceive it as being powerful until they lose to it.
In regards to Reckoner, I agree with others here that Reckoner gets worse in the build the more developed that your local meta is. This is coming from someone who absolutely LOVES Reckoner as a card. I just can't justify playing him against my meta when so much of the removal in meta nerfs his strong points.
That being said I'm still not entirely sold on Eternal Scourge as our go to 3 drop Koth protector, despite the fact that it plays nice with our Relics. It has been pretty good in testing but it doesn't quite have the umph! that we need from our 3 drop. It depends on too many other variables to be good. Subsequently, it's not something we would want to run more than 2 main board in most builds.
Hopefully, soon we can crack the code and find the right creature for that slot. If we're lucky, maybe we'll get something in one of the upcoming sets that will fit.
After testing and listening to your responses, I have continually felt underwhelmed dropping a Mind Stone turn 2. Even when I know that it will lead to a Turn 3 Blood Moon. Reading your post just solidifies that feeling. SSG is the way to go for me. Especially since i'm running Rabbles out of the sideboard against control and combo. That being said there have been multiple occasions that cycling a through a Mindstone on turn 5, or later, has drawn me the sweeper or threat that I needed to turn the tables.
I totally agree. I run a single Ugin simply because I'm too greedy.
^^This 100x. Goblin Rabblemaster out of the sideboard is just too good with SSG. I expect to win a lot of Game 2's this way.
There is so much variance in the Skred Red Decklists I've seen, it's kind of a daunting task to commit to a particular shell. Reading your posts have helped me a great deal. I appreciate all of the information and discussion that you guys have compiled here.
Edit: For Reference here is my current list.
21 Snow-Covered Mountain
2 Scrying Sheets
Artifacts
4 Relic of Progenitus
3 Mind Stone
Enchantments
3 Blood Moon
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Skred
2 Volcanic Fallout
2 Magma Jet
Sorceries
1 Anger of the Gods
1 Pyroclasm
1 Mizzium Mortars
1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
4 Koth of the Hammer
Creatures
3 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
2 Stormbreath Dragon
2 Eternal Scourge
Back on topic though, this does make it look like GR werewolves might be a thing after rotation. Hopefully it out pans better than minotaur tribal did during Theros standard.
Great post. I only wish that I could have stated this argument as eloquently and concisely as you have. It's a shame that this post will do nothing to quell the abundant fear mongering and lack of imagination that is pervading this discussion.
This is kind of commentary uncalled for.
Edit: Sometimes the most elegant solution is the simplest one as well.
EDIT: Srry. Didn't read the last few posts before replying.Seems some of you are asking the same question.