I think that combo's hayday is fairly well over. It was probably more of a thing in Vintage, with Workshop and all. Either way, it never, ever being a thing in EDH while being on the radar in other formats leads me to draw certain conclusions for why it's on the EDH list.
Even ignoring that combo, the idea of turning Pyroblast into a Vindicate/Counterspell, Reap into a 2-mana Praetor's Counsel, and other color-hate spells into no-drawback super-spells isn't something I think this format needs. Changing niche sideboard bait into versatile threats/answers isn't something a single, colorless creature should be able to do.
I don't think Painter's Servant is overtly prone to creating "unfun" game states, though. I will give that Lifeforce deck credit because it's 2 unique cards and doesn't win the game. Actually sounds like fun.
What I do know though is that Painter's Servant/Grindstone is a playable combo in ... wait for it... Legacy.
And Eldrazi titans are pricey these days. Servant Stone isn't very powerful, but newer players aren't going to have an Ulamog/Kozilek in their decks to deal with it.
On a side note, does Painter's Servant need to remain banned? It doesn't have any broken combos. Maybe grindstone, but that's it. By that logic Helm of Obedience should becbanned.
Iona locking the entire table out of the game, numerous color-hate spells (such as Pyroblast becoming the best removal/counter in the game, and things like Reap becoming unbalanced. The fact is there are so many "Color matters" spells in this game that it would be fairly difficult to balance out unbanning him (most people would just say to ban Iona, but that's the tip of the iceberg).
All of the Rhystic cards, with the notable exception of Rhystic Study and possible exception of Rhystic Scrying, are universally awful, especially in EDH where you're dealing with at least 1 more opponent than usual.
As mentioned, the tutor isn't too shabby (I'd prefer Beseech or Cruel to it though), and I've used Rhystic Cave with some success.
What 'game rules' does he break? Are you just making things up now?
Umm, the whole playing creatures as an instant and untapping your mana and guys every upkeep rules? Did I really need to explain this?
LOL? There's rules against that? Are there rules against casting counterspells too? Or how about rules against attacking with creatures?
You seriously are just making up stuff now. I'm done trying to discuss this with you.
To be fair, MtG is an exception-based system. Under normal circumstances you can't cast creature spells at instant speed or untap permanents during an opponent's turn. Not that I'm disagreeing with you on PoK, just saying that is isn't normal to do those things.
Hammer may not understand the idea of exception-based design.
Savage Summoning can be great in a deck that wants to untap with their General out. A good example is Riku of two reflections. Summoning will let you EOT him, giving your opponents much less time to remove him. Also as added benefit, Riku can copy the spell to be able to flash out two creatures (and potentially copy them as well, if you have oodles of mana).
Actually you can't copy Savage Summoning to flash out two creature spells.
Ok, so you can't really quantify how much mana metalworker will make, because each deck, and further, each game will be different. My argument is that metalworker has much greater potential to produce broken amounts of mana.
It doesn't really matter if mana crypt is imbalanced because the RC doesn't consider commander to be a competitive format. As far as the card being format warping or creating an undesirable game state you aren't going to get me to buy that. I've played with and against Mana Crypt and Sol Ring in fair and unfair decks for years, and it occasionally cause quick explosive ends to games, but more often than not the advantage it provides isn't really that big of a deal.
A 0cc rock that taps for 2 produces a broken amount of mana already. Not potentially broken or build around broken but actually broken. The drawback on Mana Crypt is laughable considering how broken it is, especially in Commander. Comparing Mana Crypt with Metalworker is an insult to Mana Crypt.
I've said this many times before but the drawback actually does come into play every now and then. I've seen it numerous times, and not because the Mana Crypt's controller was targeted in most cases. That said, Mana Crypt isn't comparable to Metalworker.
I've been testing Sage of Hours with my playgroups, and I can say one thing: Be prepared for a lot of whining. He's rarely capable of doing what he's supposed to do, but when he does no one shuts up about it. My playgroups do seem to have less of a problem with my Magosi infinite combo than they do with Sage for some reason.
Surprisingly enough, the Flagbearers are really good in EDH. Maelstrom Pulse, Oblivion Ring, Vindicate, and numerous other removal spells are more or less useless until this guy is off the board. Give him even a little protection and he can save your creatures (and other permanents in some cases) for a long time.
Rafiq, Thrun, Skittles, and a few other aggro generals are all rather meh. From personal experience Rafiq gets maybe one quick kill, folds like a bad poker hand when someone throws out a good sweeper, and then game 2 the guy who got taken out returns the favor to the Rafiq player. The Rafiq player then spends the next few games bidding his time and building up a board position instead of going for the quick kill.
Aggro is a paper tiger in 5+ player games, and only a moderate threat in 3-player games. The only decks that do poorly in 3-4 players are Battlecruiser decks that have to contend with fast aggro/average control.
I've got a mono-Black Shadowborn Apostle-focused deck (24 Apostles and mass-reanimator packages). It isn't too bad.
The problem with Relentless Rats is most people are tempted to make it an all-in kinda deck, which renders it vulnerable to sweepers and Extraction effects. Put in plenty of card draw and some effects that can help you dodge a Surgical Extraction, or else the deck will flat-out die.
And for the love of Tzeentch, do not use Coat of Arms! It will end badly for you.
How? The second it resolves you can't cast spells, and you can't target it with Xiahou Dun until it resolves. That combo is completely impossible.
The Uyo method works best, as you can bounce half of your lands back to your hand and target each opponent separately. The copies grant an Epic trigger each.
How? The second it resolves you can't cast spells, and you can't target it with Xiahou Dun until it resolves. That combo is completely impossible.
The Uyo method works best, as you can bounce half of your lands back to your hand and target each opponent separately. The copies grant an Epic trigger each.
Umbral Mantle+Paradise Mantle+Heartstone means you only need to pay 1 to exile every creature on the board (at the cost of only getting 1 Gold token afterwards).
Even ignoring that combo, the idea of turning Pyroblast into a Vindicate/Counterspell, Reap into a 2-mana Praetor's Counsel, and other color-hate spells into no-drawback super-spells isn't something I think this format needs. Changing niche sideboard bait into versatile threats/answers isn't something a single, colorless creature should be able to do.
And Eldrazi titans are pricey these days. Servant Stone isn't very powerful, but newer players aren't going to have an Ulamog/Kozilek in their decks to deal with it.
Iona locking the entire table out of the game, numerous color-hate spells (such as Pyroblast becoming the best removal/counter in the game, and things like Reap becoming unbalanced. The fact is there are so many "Color matters" spells in this game that it would be fairly difficult to balance out unbanning him (most people would just say to ban Iona, but that's the tip of the iceberg).
As mentioned, the tutor isn't too shabby (I'd prefer Beseech or Cruel to it though), and I've used Rhystic Cave with some success.
To be fair, MtG is an exception-based system. Under normal circumstances you can't cast creature spells at instant speed or untap permanents during an opponent's turn. Not that I'm disagreeing with you on PoK, just saying that is isn't normal to do those things.
Hammer may not understand the idea of exception-based design.
Define "responsible". Cause so far the only responsible use I've seen of Gifts Ungiven has been to sell it to a Modern player.
Actually you can't copy Savage Summoning to flash out two creature spells.
I've said this many times before but the drawback actually does come into play every now and then. I've seen it numerous times, and not because the Mana Crypt's controller was targeted in most cases. That said, Mana Crypt isn't comparable to Metalworker.
I've been testing Sage of Hours with my playgroups, and I can say one thing: Be prepared for a lot of whining. He's rarely capable of doing what he's supposed to do, but when he does no one shuts up about it. My playgroups do seem to have less of a problem with my Magosi infinite combo than they do with Sage for some reason.
Aggro is a paper tiger in 5+ player games, and only a moderate threat in 3-player games. The only decks that do poorly in 3-4 players are Battlecruiser decks that have to contend with fast aggro/average control.
The problem with Relentless Rats is most people are tempted to make it an all-in kinda deck, which renders it vulnerable to sweepers and Extraction effects. Put in plenty of card draw and some effects that can help you dodge a Surgical Extraction, or else the deck will flat-out die.
And for the love of Tzeentch, do not use Coat of Arms! It will end badly for you.
Could have been more clear about that.
R: Oh, you will be.
How? The second it resolves you can't cast spells, and you can't target it with Xiahou Dun until it resolves. That combo is completely impossible.
The Uyo method works best, as you can bounce half of your lands back to your hand and target each opponent separately. The copies grant an Epic trigger each.