I think, as long as you're running Liquimetal Coating, the Lich should put the phylactery counter on itself. The only cards that would deal with the lich then would've dealt with it anyway.
I think the approval many of the previous posts give to Foresee further highlights the power of Jace, the Mind Sculptor. Or put another way, I think Jace is a more appropriate comparison. For the same mana (okay, slightly more colorful mana), you can use just one of Jace's first-turn options to an arguably equivalent effect and also have... A JACE*!!! \o/
*Okay, that's not entirely true. In order to call it "arguably equivalent" you'd have to count the Jace in play as a card gained. But the other options he has and potential threat he represents if unanswered is relevant.
You can exercise your skill to win Jund mirrors all you want, but you can't tell me it's an easy or consistent matchup. If you're skilled with the deck, you would have that much easier of a time against any other deck.
I agree that mono-color hybrid costs would fit the set a lot better, but I'm not sure how well newer players would be able to understand it as a main block mechanic. I know "Expert level" sets shouldn't be too concerned with newer players, but around my area a lot of new players learn through drafting. These people often avoid cards they don't understand. I dunno. I haven't been a new player in a long time! How hard do you suppose it is to understand costs?
PS: :sym2b::sym2b::sym2b: is impossible to enunciate. I tried. It hurts!
I also think kicker is simple enough (although I never understood where the name came from, and it might not be a logical enough name for the core set).
Actually, it's perfectly logical, the word kicker's third definition from Dictionary.com is "something extra, as an additional cost or gain; an added expense or financial incentive."
Don't you know about the Urd?
*Okay, that's not entirely true. In order to call it "arguably equivalent" you'd have to count the Jace in play as a card gained. But the other options he has and potential threat he represents if unanswered is relevant.
Well, Urzatron and Gifts Ungiven shared a Standard. Also, Reap and Sow, Sylvan Scrying.
Sure it would be broken, in any of those cases, but the fact you can't choose which result you get makes Bloodbraid Elf significantly weaker.
PS: :sym2b::sym2b::sym2b: is impossible to enunciate. I tried. It hurts!
Actually, it's perfectly logical, the word kicker's third definition from Dictionary.com is "something extra, as an additional cost or gain; an added expense or financial incentive."