I agree, any UR or Grixis Control deck that might pop up in the new Standard will want 3 or 4 of these.
My thoughts exactly, this monster should see play in Standard, the God-Pharaoh has definitely answered the prayers of UR and/or Grixis players. What's not to like? a 5-mana wrath (which may be playable now that Marvel is gone) in Red PLUS the ability to nuke most planeswalkers all in one. I'd be surprised if those two archetypes don't make any splash now. All in all, this is the only card in HOU that has really impressed me so far.
Well people, time to hoard those basic lands, I remember having to wait for like a month until SCG had the foil Unhinged Island at 12$ back then to complete the set, and now it goes for around 70$, grab your foils while you can, they will explode in value if UNH is anything to go by.
I seriously doubt it, Diabolic Tutor isn't seeing any play, and this is even more expensive. There are better cycle cards out there to be sure so I doubt this will make any splash.
Really, some people just love to complain about every card that isn't stupidly broken. Disperse is already a very fine card on its own, and this comes with a bonus, besides its obvious uses in Limited, I predict this will see Standard play if control decks with access to UB become played, the bounce half can have its uses in pretty much any match up, and the Mind Rot half can be used in the late game when you have mana to spare, and in case it gets countered, so what? It didn't cost you a full card anyway. A solid car all around.
Refuse is going to make soo many Commander players unhappy when their big spells end up exploding in their faces. Also, if some sort of ramp deck takes off, this could be a nice SB card against them. Anyway, this looks like yet another would-be hoser for Marvel they had planned in case they'd refrained from swinging the banhammer at the last moment...nah, T4 Ulamog...I burn you for 10 before conceding =/
Best card name in the set. Just couldn't stay away from those great doomy dooms of doom, eh?
Awww, I'm gonna sing the Doom Song.
Now about the card, it's definitely good for Limited, it's a very strong play in the early stages of the game, though it loses value if there's any token producer on the board, so I'm not sure I'd prefer this to Unburden, either way it's solid for Limited.
If only there was a powerful activated ability in standard for this to counter. Like on an artifact.
But in seriousness, solid man.
Yeah, on an artifact that can slap a Double Vindicate together with a ridiculously powerful monster by T4...nah, Marvel would have been busted anyway with this around.
What can I say about this card? an uncounterable cantripping Stifle is bound to have its uses, and in case you don't need it, you can always play it as a passable creature. I like it.
Hey, this looks good, depending on the meta this may see SB play in Standard, an uncounterable Stifle that cantrips is a good thing to have. Let's be honest, that's what this card is going to be most of the time.
Well, this keeps in line with Rhonas being probably the best god of Amonkhet, besides that casting it on curve is a kick in the nuts in Limited, I wouldn't discount this being played in Standard either, a 5/4 for 2 can have its uses, and the drawback is workable if you're playing vs aggro in particular, a 5/4 can offset the tempo hit of not playing another threat the following turn. More casual formats will definitely love it, Llanowar Elves orMana Parrots make the drawback much less threatening.
This is a really fine uncommon for Limited, a 1/3 flyer for 2 isn't a bad thing since it can hold bears off and/or help get damage in with pump effects, and then late game you have a very nice mana sink. I definitely wouldn't mind opening one of these birdies.
Besides the obvious utility for casual Zombie decks, or a new UB Zombie Archetype in Standard, this guy may have its uses as a finisher in UB Control decks, things like Never//Return or Oath of Liliana can create one or two Zombies before the Scarab God hits the table, and then if you manage to untap with it in play...the fun starts.
This+ Sphinx's Tutelage has so much potential to ruin friendships, I doubt it will ever be seen outside of casual formats though, still, milling decks in Commander have found another tool to grief their playgroup
This seems stupid-good for Limited, cycling effects become even more useful, and if you're lucky and crack open aPull from Tomorrow...you'll have so much fun unleashing a plague of locusts on your opponent;)
Despite everyone who's claiming this will be "sideboard tech vs burn" or "a commander staple", I'm having a hard time imagining how Oketra's Last Mercy sees play.
In any format where you need sideboard options against burn, Kor Firewalker and Leyline of Sanctity both seem like better options. Both cripple burn just as bad as Oketra's Last Mercy, except the Firewalker and Leyline don't make you straight up lose if your opponent responds with Skullcrack or somesuch. Every turn is precious when playing against burn, so the last thing you want is to give them a free turn by playing right into their Skullcrack.
In EDH, Oketra's Last Mercy actually seems worse. For one thing, the fact that it's a multiplayer format by default means that for every one of your turns you get, you must endure 2-5 opponents' turns. Since you're already getting such a low ratio of you-turns to enemy-turns, skipping even part of your turn is a much bigger drawback than it is in one-on-one. And the part of your turn where you untap your lands, allowing you to cast spells and advance your board position, is a pretty important part to skip.
Sure, some of the Divine Last Stand cycle might see play, but Oketra's? Consider the fact that Resolute Archangel sees absolutely zero play in the format. Sure, she costs more than twice as much, but considering the fact that you're Mana Vaporsing yourself when you cast Oketra's Last Mercy, you're effectively paying six anyway. Plus, the archangel is a blocker to help stabilize, and it's a lot easier to cheat in and/or reuse creatures than it is sorceries. If people wanted to play this effect in EDH, they would be already.
And lifegain isn't even all that good in Commander, outside of select decks, like Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim. In casual playgroups, there's enough quirky decks that use alt win-cons, like poison or mill, that resetting your life total won't save you fairly often. In cutthroat playgroups it's even worse. Combo decks don't care; they're doing infinite damage/infinite mill/infinite whatever, so they don't care what life you're at. Control decks can take all the time in the world to kill you; by the time you're low enough for it to be worth casting this, they got you on lockdown, so even if they let you resolve it, all it will do is make your loss take a little longer. And cutthroat aggro decks kill you in one turn anyway. Two, if they're getting bad draws. Either they one-shot each person at the table, one after the other, or they play some Overrun variant, and kill everyone simultaneously. Either way, you won't have a chance to cast Oketra's Last Mercy, because you're going from ~40 to dead in a single combat step.
Seriously, why do people get so excited for one-shot nothing-but-lifegain jank?
I was going to write a comment about Oketra's Last Mercy but I couldn't agree more, there are better ways to hose Burn decks, and I doubt this will see play in Standard either, crippling yourself with the land-Exert spell gives the opponent too much of an opportunity, and considering this doesn't affect the board, all you're doing is buying time at a serious drawback. Right now there are no Burn decks in Standard to speak of, and Temur Tower decks won't let you resolve it. Honestly, if you need to board lifegain in vs aggro, Renewed Faith seems like a much better option.
...I was obviously joking, unfair hosers like that have been phased out for a good reason. But I just love that card, nothing like killing big dumb green beaters or stupid elves en masse:D
My thoughts exactly, this monster should see play in Standard, the God-Pharaoh has definitely answered the prayers of UR and/or Grixis players. What's not to like? a 5-mana wrath (which may be playable now that Marvel is gone) in Red PLUS the ability to nuke most planeswalkers all in one. I'd be surprised if those two archetypes don't make any splash now. All in all, this is the only card in HOU that has really impressed me so far.
I seriously doubt it, Diabolic Tutor isn't seeing any play, and this is even more expensive. There are better cycle cards out there to be sure so I doubt this will make any splash.
Now about the card, it's definitely good for Limited, it's a very strong play in the early stages of the game, though it loses value if there's any token producer on the board, so I'm not sure I'd prefer this to Unburden, either way it's solid for Limited.
What can I say about this card? an uncounterable cantripping Stifle is bound to have its uses, and in case you don't need it, you can always play it as a passable creature. I like it.