This card is not blue at all. These creatures aren't being transformed into clues; the artifact left behind is merely the representation of a concept. Sorin stumbles across Markov Manor to find tens of slain vampires petrified into stone pillars, and thinks 'Hmm, this seems to be the work of a lithomancer...'
As for color pie violations, between white having the best spot removal in standard, and black having the best mass removal (Crux of Fate/Languish), it almost seems like they're trying to shift the kill philosophy of the two colors. Personally, since Black doesn't care who gets in its way and will kill anybody- even its own without regard, while white is about law and justice (and hence should show some reservation in killing the guilty with the innocent) I don't necessarily have a problem with this- though I do believe that black should have a destroy option at 2 or an instant speed one at 3 if white can exile for that price.
There are only three forms; Insectile Aberration and Aberrant Researcher are the same step. They have different names because they are different cards but both are 3/2 blue fliers.
waaay too good for standard nowadays according to wotc, we all know that in reality. In other news, it's once again confirmed that, no matter how powerful a creature in magic is, a planeswalker can handle it without breaking a sweat. There's just no suspense in storytelling here, everyone is superman, overcoming any challenge thrown at them with ease. Poor avacyn, I hope there's still some hope left for the Angel of hope. Artwork is phenomenal imo, unreal even compared to the bfz trash.
Unless that planeswalker's name is Sarkhan. He spends the set that he's the face of on the run from Zurgo, is shown actively being dominated by him in the card art of Despise. Then he spends the next one grovelling at the feet of Yasova. But other than him, I totally agree. Seriously, how many vampires did Nahiri kill on Declaration in Stone?
As ironic as the puny yet superior Zurgo card is, I'd like to address the irony of putting him beside Dromoka. The original Zurgo despite having the same toughness as this chump, and being an even poorer blocker thanks to having to attack every turn was indestructible on your turn. Surely the Elder Dragonlord famed for her extreme resilience and having a more appropriate color identity for it would have indestructible? No? Okay, how about regeneration? Protection? Hexproof? Oh, it just dies to removal like everything else. I'm sorry, it gets a pass against the white ones that can only hit attackers.
At least I can always count on her to hit the field when I'm playing against the one color where uncounterability is relevant.
Though that should have been Atarka. For so many reasons...
While Silgumar's new iteration does do something that makes it worthy of mythic status than its younger rare counterpart, I too am worried that the young one is actually more playable. However, I am so much happier with its flavor though that I don't even care.
In a world with a cycle of competing brood masters, where one is defined as being impossible to kill (Dromoka- who it also has a bigger butt than for some reason), and another as being cunning and extremely maneuverable (Ojutai) how exactly did this one end up with hexproof on it other than as a last ditch effort for a blue color identity? After all, flash, flying, islandwalk and hexproof seem to be only go-to blue keyword creature mechanics; it had to fly being a dragon, its not a marine creature, and flash makes even less sense given his laziness.
Thank you Wizards for giving the komodo dragon dragon the deathtouch it deserves. Waiting patiently for other dragonlords, and I expect better flavor from their cards too.
I really wish that Wizards would make future cards similar to Avalanche Tusker like this:
When [cardname] attacks you may choose to remove it and target creature defending player controls from combat. If you do, those creatures fight.
Sure it would suck for the purposes of pushing through trample damage (which not nearly enough Elephants have by the way), but if my attacker is able to hunt down specific prey, it shouldn't matter if its potential victim is able to block it or not.
As for color pie violations, between white having the best spot removal in standard, and black having the best mass removal (Crux of Fate/Languish), it almost seems like they're trying to shift the kill philosophy of the two colors. Personally, since Black doesn't care who gets in its way and will kill anybody- even its own without regard, while white is about law and justice (and hence should show some reservation in killing the guilty with the innocent) I don't necessarily have a problem with this- though I do believe that black should have a destroy option at 2 or an instant speed one at 3 if white can exile for that price.
Unless that planeswalker's name is Sarkhan. He spends the set that he's the face of on the run from Zurgo, is shown actively being dominated by him in the card art of Despise. Then he spends the next one grovelling at the feet of Yasova. But other than him, I totally agree. Seriously, how many vampires did Nahiri kill on Declaration in Stone?
At least I can always count on her to hit the field when I'm playing against the one color where uncounterability is relevant.
Though that should have been Atarka. For so many reasons...
In a world with a cycle of competing brood masters, where one is defined as being impossible to kill (Dromoka- who it also has a bigger butt than for some reason), and another as being cunning and extremely maneuverable (Ojutai) how exactly did this one end up with hexproof on it other than as a last ditch effort for a blue color identity? After all, flash, flying, islandwalk and hexproof seem to be only go-to blue keyword creature mechanics; it had to fly being a dragon, its not a marine creature, and flash makes even less sense given his laziness.
Thank you Wizards for giving the komodo dragon dragon the deathtouch it deserves. Waiting patiently for other dragonlords, and I expect better flavor from their cards too.
When [cardname] attacks you may choose to remove it and target creature defending player controls from combat. If you do, those creatures fight.
Sure it would suck for the purposes of pushing through trample damage (which not nearly enough Elephants have by the way), but if my attacker is able to hunt down specific prey, it shouldn't matter if its potential victim is able to block it or not.