MTG Salvation

I love the two pieces by Cartagena. The serenity no longer seen in MtG art.

None of the previewed cards intrigues me. I avoid Atraxa and Kallia, for one, and it's not my style to play Doubling Seasons or Blightsteel. Mana Crypt is kinda cheating so I only use it in one of my decks. Though, I'm sure it's a great way to save money by buying a box; even hitting one of the cash cards would refund a chunk of its cost, let alone "double".

Maro:

"The natural place to center wedge factions is in the enemy color (for example, white in red-white-black). It's intuitively what everyone assumes, as it's the color that has the same relationship with the other colors. The only reason we didn't do that in Khans of Tarkir was that we couldn't. You see, the factions started as wedge in Khans of Tarkir and then, after time travel shenanigans, turned into ally color factions in Dragons of Tarkir. Creatively, the factions shifted but had the same core identity. That meant we couldn't center it in the enemy color, as that was the one color that disappeared between the first and last set of the block. Originally, by the way, the factions in Dragons of Tarkir were enemy colored, but it turns out that wedge sets and enemy color sets draft similarly, so we had to change it.

When we got to the plane of Ikoria, we were in a new world that didn't have the restrictions of Tarkir, so we let each wedge center itself where it felt most natural, which was the enemy color. I think this is a good thing because I like having mechanical elements that further differentiate the two wedge worlds from one another."

Quote from BlazingRagnarok »

More specifically than "here's a really strong 2 CMC creature in red," what is your goal here? The four creatures you named get lumped together a lot, but they have nothing in common beyond their converted mana cost. Those four cards had their own design backgrounds. Bob and Snap are invitational cards created by different tournament champions, essentially born from the ideals of two people with competitive success at the highest level. Goyf is a card type showcase that was underestimated for some time before it got its reputation. Stoneforge is the lynchpin of a tribal archetype that managed to outgrow its intended role almost entirely thanks to the equipment printed in the following block.

In light of that, creating a card for the sake of "here are four great cards that share a CMC, shame red doesn't have one that good" means you aren't creating the card for its own sake. As a result, it will always stand in the shadow of the four cards you invoked. There's also something to be said for simplicity and flexibility, but that's another issue.

Then I suppose you didn't know the background story. Allow me to share it with you.

Ever since Modern became a thing, the four aforementioned cards also gained their popularity in the format. There were casual discussions in several forums where people found a (loosely) common ground for these cards because they are all 2cc (1 and one colored) and are all tournament worthy staples. At the same time, some curious people started to question, "Will WotC make a red one that'd complete the circle, the five most powerful 2cc creatures, one for each color?"

That was when some suggested perhaps Young Pyromancer could fit the bill, but it was obviously not as good as the rest, so the discussion went on to, "What would a 2cc red creature be like that could be on par with the four?"

That is where this thread came from. This a hypothetical continuation of those chit chat, to see what people imagine such as red creature would be, one would "complete the circle". Elegantly, if possible.

Quote from Ryperior74 »

Oh oh oh just remembered a hidden gem

Shah of Naar Isle

A 0 echo cost with a opponent benefit but probably won’t take it due to Xyris and you can get up to 9 snakes

You win either way

I certainly missed that one! Though assuming opponent didn't draw, I'm not sure if a 6/6 is impacting enough to be in the deck. I will add it in as an option.

So it's a popular opinion that each color aside from red has a best 2cc creature thus far.

W: Stoneforge Mystic
U: Snapcaster Mage
B: Dark Confidant
G: Tarmogoyf

Some named Young Pyromancer to be it, but YP doesn't have the power level of the other four, so here is a thread dedicated to creating a powerful (but fair) 1R for red.

For it to be thematically red, it should include at least one or more of the following traits:

1) Damage potential
2) Stealing
3) Temporary effect (including Treasure creation)
4) Combat oriented

I think Grenzo, Havoc Raiser would've been an ideal candidate if it isn't a legend. Robber of the Rich is right there also, but still less impacting than other colors. Dreadhorde Arcanist also requires some set up and gears more towards spellslinging.

My idea being:

Best Bandit
1R
Creature - Human Rogue
2/2

Haste
At the beginning of your post-combat main phase, if ~ attacked this turn, create a Treasure token for each source you controlled that dealt damage to your opponents this turn.
Sacrifice a Treasure: Target creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn.

A lightly better Captain Lannery Storm, and satisfied three of the four traits listed above. I think an iconic red creature should involve attacking at least once.

I actually like the way WotC does recent white cards, they just need to pack more punch. A perfect example would be Land Tax, it let you search THREE lands even when you're down by one/two, so I don't see why Cartographer's Hawk can't search for at least two lands.

That, and I think white should utilize more of its Balance effect, allowing it to do LD/Discard base on how behind you are. That way, white would have an unique "advantage" of equalizing the game, without imitating other colors like Harmonize did.

I also believe white should have a sense of "civilization" in its feel, since Land Tax + Scrollrack is a common white card advantage symbolizing trades and exchange. Trading Post should've been a white card really. Armistice follows that idea but it could use a buff. I created a card in the past that goes like this (hope I remember it correctly):

Dawn of Civilization
1W
Enchantment

W, sacrifice a creature: Return target artifact with converted mana cost 1 or less to the battlefield.
W, sacrifice an artifact: Search your library for a basic lands and put them into your hand.
2W, sacrifice a land: Create two 1/1 white Citizen tokens.


The flavor of the card goes like: People died build a home -> Tools used to create lands -> Land feeds people. It's within white's flavor to work with lands, small creatures, and small artifacts (eggs).

Another one being:

Government Dealings
1W
Instant

Choose one:

- Search your library for a permanent card and reveal it, then put it into your hand. Target opponent gains control of a permanent you control of the same type as the card revealed this way.
- Search your library for an instant or sorcery card and reveal it, then put it into your hand. Target opponent may cast a card in your graveyard of the same type this turn without paying its mana cost.

It looks bad on the front, but at instant speed Government Dealings offers tremendous amount of politics in addition to card search, which means that unlike the self-serving blue or black tutors1 you are able to make a bargain with potential allies. Besides, if you don't have the right card for your opponent to steal, this would just be a powerful tutor.

List updated! Thx all for contributing!

If I make a Brokka deck, I think I'd go tokens since they come out easy and numerous, making Brokka really hard to stop.

A jank idea would be ultting Vraska the Unseen then mutate onto her game-winning assassin tokens, make them big with trample so you could go through for the kill. For fun.

Thank you for sharing. I've experienced similar things as well where the group doesn't play the same style as I do. It's not something you can forced, and YOUR personal entertainment should be priority, or there's no point playing, especially if you also don't have similar budget like others.

I'd find another group either via local game store or through internet. It's probably safer to play in a store than to answer an invite to strangers' group. You can also consider playing digitally (for now) to meet like-minded people via apps and/or MtG Arena.

Good luck with your endeavor!

As usual, I am getting all five precons, and a few mutate cards from Ikoria for Illuna. Too many cards from main set to list, though I want to start pondering about companions with decks now.

Infect creatures and Cephalid Constable/Needle Specter type cards. Despite of Otrimi's ability, I think it's better for the deck to use less mutate creatures.

There's also this rumored Secret Lair Godzilla lands.

Quote from soramaro »

Quote from 5colors »

For the city they talk about being able to separate out into small groupers then come back together as a bigger whole which kinda feels white or white/green so that might be that aspect of it.

Skysail is mentioned in the Indatha section, but even going by the little information we have about it, it very much feels like a "Rwu" type of place. The main value is freedom (R) which is achieved by careful planning and engineering (U) and a strong social structure (W) which are both necessary to successfully maintain a floating city that has to defend itself against giant sky monsters.

The Skysail is floating for safety's sake, not necessarily because of freedom (a side benefit perhaps). Valuing safety via congregation is a W/G trait, soaring above the danger (B) below them. Though, there's no deny that Skysail could go else where when they choose to, as we saw in Xyris, the Writhing Storm, but the "Jeskai" region of Ikoria is Raugrin, that place is filled with flying dinosaurs so Skysail's advantage is naught over there. Indatha is terrible but most threats appear to be nonflying. Most.

Xyris, the Writhing Storm

This thread is for ideas on how to utilize Xyris's versatility and political ploy.







Possible deck theme are:

Wheels/Mutual draws
Handsize/mana lock down
Damage doublers
Token theme
Snake tribal

Obviously the bigger Xyris is, the stronger his trigger would be. With set up, you might end the game with a single wheel/Prosperity.