DarkRitual, the problem is that your opponent gets to see the bonus before deciding on blockers. The attacker attacks not knowing the bonus while the defender gets to choose his blockers with that information. This is a skill tester card. Better players see it's flaws.
Could it be possible that the truth is somewhere between the extremes that people are debating? I can see both sides of the argument. Currently I agree that there doesn't appear to be a spot for it in a deck. Green stompy has been a legitimate deck in the past and if it makes a comeback, this might slip into the deck. It was stated that often times your choice is made by other options at the casting cost. This card does offer some versatility in that manner. I guess that the amount of removal in the foreseeable future will keep green stompy (and this card) from tournament play.
From the new precon images. Darksteel Dragon-red, Phyrexian Swarmlord-green, Phyrexian Ingester-blue, and Chancelor of the Dross-black (listed already).
edit.-guesses on first name. Doesn't look like a k before steel on the dragon.
Everyone's list floats between 10-20 playable commons in the set. If you use the number 15 as the number of commons,that puts the percentage of commons that will see play in standard at roughly 20%. That seems about the norm to me. The fact that the uncommons/rare/mythics have a higher percentage of playability than average, I think that SoM will have a significant impact on the standard environment.
Shivan's first deck list seems to be about the closest to the optimum build based on current spoiler list. The only question I had was inclusion of the 2 smoldering spires. I have been playtesting the exact same build (sans spires) and have found it running well. I took out all the CITP lands and have been very happy.
The deck plays out one of two ways. Standard beatface red that will punish any sub-optimum draw. There are times when old RDW would stall out and then Koth comes on board. Now all these red weenies become chump blockers for Koth until his ultimate goes off. It seems to give the deck the reach it needs.
It seems as if Staggershock is the card that may be replaced. I am not saying it's bad, just the most likely candidate. I am going to test forked bolt in it's slot. Ratchet bomb is painfully slow. I am guessing the red spellbomb will be artifact destruction instead of damage leaving us in search for an answer to the pesky pro red creature.
edit: Brittle effigy has been great out of the board against Mr. Firewalker and all 4+ toughness creatures. Sideboard in flux but BE gets 3 slots.
1. Wizards of the Coast did not say that Mythics would never be tournament staples. True 2. They said they would not be a complete list of each set's most tournament powerful cards. True, but the trend has been growing.
3. They said they wouldn't be utility cards. It has been argued for several cards (Lotus Cobra and Vengevine to name a few) that this is no longer the case.
All that being said, it's Wizards product and they can change "the rules" if they want. I voted that it will be mythic and the trend of the majority of the top cards will be concentrated in the mythic slots. It will be interesting to see how they rationalize it. I would have more respect if they just say it is a way to increase sales and be done with it.
It seems that the image of Mox Opal might be helpful in determining the card. The hands appear to becoming artificed so likely it will relate to artifacts. Mox Diamond, remove an artifact most likely.
I think the biggest issue is what defines a "utility card". My problem with the statement from MaRo is including Char as an example. Char is an excellent card that is a good example of "utility" for RED. Now you add a green creature that seems like a "utility" card in GREEN. I think if he left Char out of his original example, there may be less fuss over the statement. Similar arguments can be made for Baneslayer or the new blue counter.
On a different note, as a private company I do defend the right of WotC to change their minds on what to print as a mythic. Just as it is every player's right to stop buying their product if they think the new mythics are unfair.
Sept Baneslayer is good in control, agro and midrange. Is a threat by itself. This guy isnt unless you have gobos in your hand. Nah this guys really more like Double Preminent captain.
While it may have a narrower list of deck types (goblin only), it is a mandatory four of and will be used in all formats. I will stay with my prediction that it's price curve will be near Baneslayer's.
I think this card is extremely powerful. I have no doubt that lackey is a superior card but it doesn't make this chopped liver. It must be dealt with immediately, a lot like the current money T2 card Baneslayer. The best creatures are the ones that must be dealt with. Yes it has a limited deck use, but in that deck it will be a 4of. It will be used in goblin decks in most/all formats. The pricing will follow closely to Baneslayer's, maybe even a bit higher especially if Zen provides a few gobbies that are tournament worthy.
The cards are definitely there. The problem is, they aren't good enough. Look at these MBC cards in M10:
Consume Spirit x4
Doom Blade x4
Duress x4
Mind Rot x4
Nightmare (finisher) x4
Sign in Blood x4
Tendrils of Corruption x4
Add Infest x4 from Shards block.
The deck needs a better finisher (Sorin), better discard (cross your fingers), and could probably stand to play fewer Consume Spirits, but the core of MBC is already present.
While not strong enough in the current standard environment, this base you have posted is a good start. We will have to see what Zendikar brings us and what other decks will be competitive post rotation. IF MBC is viable, Sorin will be a part of it.
This card is just what MBC needs. The people that are trying to say this is unplayable must have no experience with that deck. Is it going to be used in multiple deck styles, not likely. In the right deck this will shine. The first ability helps maintain board control and the second will likely be more useful than the third in finishing your opponent. If someone works out a blue/black traditional control deck with this, the third ability may also come into play. This will obviously not be an auto-include in any black deck but I expect it could be key to making MBC or U/B control a competitive deck type.
I have been playing around with this build lately. It is a blast to play and seems to do well against the field. Just a few tidbits from playtesting.
1. As long as Hallowed Burial is in the format, you need to include the Negates. Same could be said for Cryptic Command.
2. Playtesting with an Alara Block/M10 build, I doubt we will be able to keep the blue. I am not unhappy with the loss of the current manabase situation as I have seen enough of 5cc.
3. Recent playtesting has shown Flameblast Dragon as a great card for this deck. If your opponent doesn't have an immediate answer it plays like a Banefire on a stick. Would love to hear feedback from others who have tried it out.
As far as builds, using popeye's original build in current type 2 and similar to Dyllyn's for "futuretesting" -3 Fertile, -1 Soul Maj, -1 Garruk (propably go back up to 3), +2 Rampant, +2 Volcan Drag., +1 Land.
edit.-guesses on first name. Doesn't look like a k before steel on the dragon.
The deck plays out one of two ways. Standard beatface red that will punish any sub-optimum draw. There are times when old RDW would stall out and then Koth comes on board. Now all these red weenies become chump blockers for Koth until his ultimate goes off. It seems to give the deck the reach it needs.
It seems as if Staggershock is the card that may be replaced. I am not saying it's bad, just the most likely candidate. I am going to test forked bolt in it's slot. Ratchet bomb is painfully slow. I am guessing the red spellbomb will be artifact destruction instead of damage leaving us in search for an answer to the pesky pro red creature.
edit: Brittle effigy has been great out of the board against Mr. Firewalker and all 4+ toughness creatures. Sideboard in flux but BE gets 3 slots.
2. They said they would not be a complete list of each set's most tournament powerful cards. True, but the trend has been growing.
3. They said they wouldn't be utility cards. It has been argued for several cards (Lotus Cobra and Vengevine to name a few) that this is no longer the case.
All that being said, it's Wizards product and they can change "the rules" if they want. I voted that it will be mythic and the trend of the majority of the top cards will be concentrated in the mythic slots. It will be interesting to see how they rationalize it. I would have more respect if they just say it is a way to increase sales and be done with it.
On a different note, as a private company I do defend the right of WotC to change their minds on what to print as a mythic. Just as it is every player's right to stop buying their product if they think the new mythics are unfair.
While it may have a narrower list of deck types (goblin only), it is a mandatory four of and will be used in all formats. I will stay with my prediction that it's price curve will be near Baneslayer's.
While not strong enough in the current standard environment, this base you have posted is a good start. We will have to see what Zendikar brings us and what other decks will be competitive post rotation. IF MBC is viable, Sorin will be a part of it.
1. As long as Hallowed Burial is in the format, you need to include the Negates. Same could be said for Cryptic Command.
2. Playtesting with an Alara Block/M10 build, I doubt we will be able to keep the blue. I am not unhappy with the loss of the current manabase situation as I have seen enough of 5cc.
3. Recent playtesting has shown Flameblast Dragon as a great card for this deck. If your opponent doesn't have an immediate answer it plays like a Banefire on a stick. Would love to hear feedback from others who have tried it out.
As far as builds, using popeye's original build in current type 2 and similar to Dyllyn's for "futuretesting" -3 Fertile, -1 Soul Maj, -1 Garruk (propably go back up to 3), +2 Rampant, +2 Volcan Drag., +1 Land.