The short answer is that it works that way because wizards decided they wanted it to work that way. The gatherer ruling is indeed correct though.
Well, if this happened during an event and I was the judge, I'd immediately rule that the gatherer was wrong, as this ruling negate the comprehensive rules.
If wizards wanted it to function in the way written in the gatherer, shouldn it be explicitly written in the card?
I was messing around the Gatherer and Randomly found Elite Arcanist then found something in the rulings that I'm quite sure is wrong...
well, here goes:
If the exiled card is a split card, then {X} is the sum of the converted mana costs of each half. However, when you cast the copy, you choose only one half to cast. You may cast a different half each time you create and cast a copy.
This doesn't make any sense....
Look, from the comprehensive rules:
708.2. In every zone except the stack, split cards have two sets of characteristics and two converted mana costs. As long as a split card is a spell on the stack, only the characteristics of the half being cast exist. The other half's characteristics are treated as though they didn't exist.
and
708.5. An effect that asks for a particular characteristic of a split card while it's in a zone other than the stack gets two answers (one for each of the split card's two halves).
Example: Infernal Genesis has an ability that reads, "At the beginning of each player's upkeep, that player puts the top card from his or her library into his or her graveyard. He or she then puts X 1/1 black Minion creature tokens onto the battlefield, where X is that card's converted mana cost." If the top card of your library is Assault/Battery when this ability resolves, the game sees its converted mana cost as "1, and 4." You get five creature tokens.
From the comprehensive rules, the logical way to go is make you simply pay X for one of the sides of the split card, and then cast either side....
I mean, if I exile, for example, Far / Away, in exile, per rule 708.5, it's converted mana cost is 2 and 3, not 5...
so, I must pay either 2 or 3, I shouldn't even be allowed to pay 5 as no question I'll ask the card will give me the answer 5.
To further illustrate my point, look at the ruling for Panoptic Mirror
To imprint a split card, you pay X equal to either side's converted mana cost. If the copied card is a split card, you choose which one side of it to cast, but you can't cast both sides. You can choose the other side later in the game, though.
I will avoid uncommons as sleeper picks as those rarely see more than a $2 increase in price.
There is only one definite underrated card right now, and that's Ephara. Ephara is much stronger in the game than she looks like on paper, and given some solid flash creatures (maybe in JYN, maybe in next year's block) in she fits into a aggro-control deck quite well (your creatures all delay-cycle themselves letting you draw control spells and the like). She's right under the curve where you want to jam Prophet of Kruphix, so it's possible that the deck she goes into exists now. Regardless of whether you take advantage of her or not, her ability is very powerful as a card-advantage engine. I think she'll go up $3-5 in the short term and perhaps mature late.
I guess.... specially in decks that user flicker effects, she can be REALLY powerful, but without rampant Restoration Angels everywhere I guess this will not find a home.
The "possibly"s for me-
Mogis is another mythic that is stronger in play than on paper. I'm not sure he's worth more than $10, but there are punisher, tribal, removal and aggro decks built around him in the works and if they find success then he's going to be somewhere around $15 (higher if he finds success in more than one archetype, like being good in both aggro and removal-heavy decks). I don't think it's incredibly likely, but the low power level of the cards we play with aren't something I'm very used to at present, and I imagine it's a remote possibility.
I don't think Mogis is being underrated... He's at 20 bucks everywhere, I'll be really afraid if a 20 bucks card is "sleeping".
he's pretty decent, once he activates, he's a better Desecration Demon.... and well, Desecration Demon sees a lot of play.
If that 7 devotion is attainable, he'll see play, but well, he's fighting for the spot with Desecration Demon himself, he'll have to prove to be better than the demon in general... and I'm not quite sure right now.
Hero of Leinas Tower is an incredibly efficient mana sink, though I hesitate to call him "good". Hydras, Corpsejack Menace, Bioshift, Evolve, and many more cards have been in standard for quite some time now, and I don't think any of them aside from an occasional standouts (Cloudfin Raptor) have seen much play. I don't think a deck would have to be built around it as it may be quite solid as both an early game play and a lategame threat, but the deck would have to have several cheap ways to target him (the best of which would give him regeneration or hexproof). Since the hexproof giving archetype was costed at ridiculously highly, I think wizards has been much more hesitant about throwing that keyword around. As such, I doubt this card has far to go.
Yeah, the little girl can be a big sleeper.
you could try throwing her in modern hexproof auras and see what happens there...
she does not have hexproof, but will get REAL big.
turn 1, her,
turn 2, Hyena Umbra and a counter...
turn 3, Coronet and another counter...
it's somewhat scary, but lack of hexproof and the fact that Kor Spiritdancer may just be better make me have doubts, but this girl can find a home, it's something that may be worth hoard right now.
Eidolon of Countless Battles/Hero of Iroas -
I lump these together as they both depend entirely on the same decks. Heroic/Bestow and Standard Hexproof. If they create a resurgence of those decks and they become strong once again, they will see a rise in value (smaller for the Eidolon, I think). Once again, this is a large "if", and I wouldn't put the likelihood high.
they're both pretty good.
I already got 12 of each.
I'll be surprised if those two don't see some play and a price increase.
I really doubt they will fall in price...
Courser of Kruphix-
He's underrated because of his inability to ramp you. He helps hit land drops, and when you're holding lands he helps you draw live. He's quite solid with the scrying that is all over standard right now. He's a worse Oracle of Mul-Daya, but he's quite solid regardless.
This guy is not good, at all, I think.
It'll give away information about your deck and draw for free.
It does not ramp, and only gives card advantage if your topdeck is a land.
also a 2/4 "vanilla" for 3 is not impressive at all.
I think this guy is overcosted at the 4 bucks people is asking for him.
Herald of Torment-
This is an efficiently costed creature and enchantment that can jump your guy to finish games late in aggro, or can come down as an efficient beater. I think he's overlooked because he feels very vanilla with a drawback, but the card itself is quite powerful (and blocks/attacks through Nightveil Specter quite well).
This guy is fine, sure.
don't really think he's becoming a staple anytime soon, but could be played, at US$1,00 I'll get some.
Short notes about some things I think affect card prices/opinions that are being overlooked:
Flame-Wreathed Phoenix can be removed in response to the trigger that gives him the haste and recursion ability, meaning the opponent can both not pay tribute and get rid of the phoenix permanently.
LOL! I started replying this post just to say you were wrong and that Tribute was a replacement effect and not a triggered ability bla bla bla...
turns out I was overlooking the horrible truth.
yes.... this guy can be killed in response to that trigger!
LOL! that's weird.
There is no way to efficiently break Perplexing Chimera aside from Galepowder Mage in modern, and even that is a stretch.
Perplexing Chimera basically says "when ~ is in the battlefield your opponents can't play targeted stuff that will create big problems"
you don't really expect to use it to bounce a Cruel Ultimatum, you actually use it to make them not play the ultimatum until they find a way to deal with the chimera.
It's a decent card, but I wouldn't hoard it for now.
The only deck that would obviously play Pain Seer obviously wants to attack with him to tap him, and he's not very efficient at combat.
ditto.
Satyr Firedancer in a dedicated burn deck is the only target for your opponent's removal, and an absolute waste in a control matchup. If your burn was already going to kill your opponent, killing your opponent's creatures is win-more, unless they're aggro and have nothing to deal with your 1/1. Also terrible against Boros Reckoner (but maybe good with it?).
Satyr Firedancer is a sideboard for burn against heavy aggro decks to warrant you'll win the race if he's left unchecked,
He's just that, but he's pretty good at this job.
He won't ever be in the 10 dollars pack anyway.
Gild is really flavorful, gets rid of problematic creatures, and can help you cast spells off of Nightveil Specter. It's probably my favorite card in the set.
Really love it too.
but it's not really that good.
for 4 mana you get a marginally better Murder at sorcery speed and a Lotus Petal...
this will probably see some play in monoblack decks to get rid of opposing gods though.
I don't think I'll get lots of it right now
Eidolon of Countless Battles - in right deck this guy can be huge. His bestow cost is also very attractive.
Fated Retribution - Sweeper + planeswalker destruction at instant speed? I can see how control decks may like it. 7 mana is a lot, but Sphinx revelation usually costs even more.
Herald of Torment - He looks quite strong in monoblack, may be a thing once Nightvell rotates out.
I let myself not mention other obvious ones, like Pain Seer.
I still think Pain Seer may be a "reverse sleeper".
everyone is hyping him right now, but he might end being just another Blood Scrivener.
He's not in the same league as Dark Confidant by a long shot, there's not enough good cards to tap/untap him multiple times in a turn that fit everything they need (i.e. cheap to cast and use, not heavy on "non black" colors) to make Pain Seer broken, and if left unchecked as you would with Dark Confidant, he'll take YEARS to draw you cards.
I'll not be surprised if he's in the US$1,00 rares pile in a couple of months.
For some reason I keep thinking Fanatic of Xenagos is going to be an allstar in R/G Aggro decks. Maybe it's just me?
No... it's not just you.
Actually, Fanatic of Xenagos isn't a sleeper because he's a power uncommon.
It's one of the most expensive uncommons in the set already for being obviously powerful.
That said, yes, it will see play, it's a pretty above average 3 drop for RG aggro.
no question about that.
I'd say it's one of the best aggro 3 drops in RG ever (probably second best in multicolor grull 3 drop ever just behind Boggart Ram Gang), nothing is sleeping about this guy, he's fully awake
My favorite is Oracle of Bones, it'll enable my U/R big spell deck. I'm thinking Fated Infatuation to clone him. Opponents will always give me a free spell because they assume it'll at worst be a Lightning Strike.
I hope you're not serious.
I highly doubt Oracle of Bones will ever let you play a free spell....
it will be a 5/3 haste for 4 mana at any time you have an unknown card in your hand.
problem is... a 5/3 haste for 4 mana is not that good.
this is pretty sick in limited....
Maybe even decent for constructed, if you attach it to a evasive guy, it will generate a VERY fast clock....
it does not provide the evasion as madcap does, but it REALLY does a great job providing insane power to a creature.
At least in limited this will wreck some havoc.
In constructed... I dunno.... but I can see it working
It REALLY helps burn against aggro...
I mean, REALLY.
basically, if you drop this guy against an aggro deck on turn 2 and then just proceed to burn to face, burn to face, burn to face as you should, he will warrant you win the race.
May be a narrow sideboard card for burn, but I like it... A LOT, really.
Eidolon of Countless Battles makes me SOOOOO happy.
Seriously.
Finally a creature with bestow that's actually playable in both modes! (other than Boon Satyr inb4 someone points it out)
Hexproof Auras may have a new friend, and this dude is amazing in both tokens.dec and auras.dec haha
won't turn standard upside down, but it's pretty decent.
Can't wait to curve Brimaz into bestowing this guy and attack.
Meletis astronomer is cute.
Oracle of Bones is just a bad punisher card... 5/3 haste for 4 mana just isn't that powerful, and you'll almost never get to cast a card for free.
basically it reads 2RR 3/1 haste and If when it enters the battlefield, if you have a card in your hand, put 2 +1/+1 counters on it. Nothing to see here....
the bestow common cycle convinces me once and for all that bestow is my least favorite mechanic ever!
Ok, so wizards can't push it or it would become too good in limited...
fine...
they could at least make it interesting!
make it appeal to casual crowds by making the cards do cool stuff.
this cycle is AWFUL!
Would anyone play Unholy Strenght? Even in limited? Even in casual? maybe, but it's uninteresting, uninspired.
would anyone play it for 3B? No! Never! then they print it at 4B.
There are cards that appeal to contructed players by being really efficient for its cost, cards that appeal to limited players by being really powerful somehow, cards that appeal to casual crowds by doing cool stuff and well... there are cards that appeal to nobody.
I know they need to print bad cards to make the good cards look even better, but man... I really hate it when they print bad cards just for the sake of being bad.
This set has LOTS of decent uncommons, which is a pretty good thing, but where are the playable commons?!
really.
Well, if this happened during an event and I was the judge, I'd immediately rule that the gatherer was wrong, as this ruling negate the comprehensive rules.
If wizards wanted it to function in the way written in the gatherer, shouldn it be explicitly written in the card?
well, here goes:
This doesn't make any sense....
Look, from the comprehensive rules:
and
From the comprehensive rules, the logical way to go is make you simply pay X for one of the sides of the split card, and then cast either side....
I mean, if I exile, for example, Far / Away, in exile, per rule 708.5, it's converted mana cost is 2 and 3, not 5...
so, I must pay either 2 or 3, I shouldn't even be allowed to pay 5 as no question I'll ask the card will give me the answer 5.
To further illustrate my point, look at the ruling for Panoptic Mirror
Why would Elite Arcanist be treated any different than Panoptic Mirror?!
So, is the ruling in Elite Arcanist really wrong in the gatherer?
I think it is.
never collected that many of another single ever since.
as for cards I don't really collect...
I have 6 Force of Will about 40 Lightning Bolt, more than 20 counterspell, 12 Swords to Plowshares lots and lots of too much stuff... lol.
I guess.... specially in decks that user flicker effects, she can be REALLY powerful, but without rampant Restoration Angels everywhere I guess this will not find a home.
I don't think Mogis is being underrated... He's at 20 bucks everywhere, I'll be really afraid if a 20 bucks card is "sleeping".
he's pretty decent, once he activates, he's a better Desecration Demon.... and well, Desecration Demon sees a lot of play.
If that 7 devotion is attainable, he'll see play, but well, he's fighting for the spot with Desecration Demon himself, he'll have to prove to be better than the demon in general... and I'm not quite sure right now.
Yeah, the little girl can be a big sleeper.
you could try throwing her in modern hexproof auras and see what happens there...
she does not have hexproof, but will get REAL big.
turn 1, her,
turn 2, Hyena Umbra and a counter...
turn 3, Coronet and another counter...
it's somewhat scary, but lack of hexproof and the fact that Kor Spiritdancer may just be better make me have doubts, but this girl can find a home, it's something that may be worth hoard right now.
they're both pretty good.
I already got 12 of each.
I'll be surprised if those two don't see some play and a price increase.
I really doubt they will fall in price...
This guy is not good, at all, I think.
It'll give away information about your deck and draw for free.
It does not ramp, and only gives card advantage if your topdeck is a land.
also a 2/4 "vanilla" for 3 is not impressive at all.
I think this guy is overcosted at the 4 bucks people is asking for him.
This guy is fine, sure.
don't really think he's becoming a staple anytime soon, but could be played, at US$1,00 I'll get some.
LOL! I started replying this post just to say you were wrong and that Tribute was a replacement effect and not a triggered ability bla bla bla...
turns out I was overlooking the horrible truth.
yes.... this guy can be killed in response to that trigger!
LOL! that's weird.
Perplexing Chimera basically says "when ~ is in the battlefield your opponents can't play targeted stuff that will create big problems"
you don't really expect to use it to bounce a Cruel Ultimatum, you actually use it to make them not play the ultimatum until they find a way to deal with the chimera.
It's a decent card, but I wouldn't hoard it for now.
ditto.
Satyr Firedancer is a sideboard for burn against heavy aggro decks to warrant you'll win the race if he's left unchecked,
He's just that, but he's pretty good at this job.
He won't ever be in the 10 dollars pack anyway.
Really love it too.
but it's not really that good.
for 4 mana you get a marginally better Murder at sorcery speed and a Lotus Petal...
this will probably see some play in monoblack decks to get rid of opposing gods though.
I don't think I'll get lots of it right now
I still think Pain Seer may be a "reverse sleeper".
everyone is hyping him right now, but he might end being just another Blood Scrivener.
He's not in the same league as Dark Confidant by a long shot, there's not enough good cards to tap/untap him multiple times in a turn that fit everything they need (i.e. cheap to cast and use, not heavy on "non black" colors) to make Pain Seer broken, and if left unchecked as you would with Dark Confidant, he'll take YEARS to draw you cards.
I'll not be surprised if he's in the US$1,00 rares pile in a couple of months.
This guy will find a home.
Maybe even in modern hexproof auras.
No... it's not just you.
Actually, Fanatic of Xenagos isn't a sleeper because he's a power uncommon.
It's one of the most expensive uncommons in the set already for being obviously powerful.
That said, yes, it will see play, it's a pretty above average 3 drop for RG aggro.
no question about that.
I'd say it's one of the best aggro 3 drops in RG ever (probably second best in multicolor grull 3 drop ever just behind Boggart Ram Gang), nothing is sleeping about this guy, he's fully awake
UR god will be Galvanoth on steroids.
wait and see.
SOOOO CUTE.
I hope you're not serious.
I highly doubt Oracle of Bones will ever let you play a free spell....
it will be a 5/3 haste for 4 mana at any time you have an unknown card in your hand.
problem is... a 5/3 haste for 4 mana is not that good.
Seek the horizon does not ramp, it only warrants your land drops....
for me, neither are good cards, but I still see Peregrination as the better one.
Maybe even decent for constructed, if you attach it to a evasive guy, it will generate a VERY fast clock....
it does not provide the evasion as madcap does, but it REALLY does a great job providing insane power to a creature.
At least in limited this will wreck some havoc.
In constructed... I dunno.... but I can see it working
It REALLY helps burn against aggro...
I mean, REALLY.
basically, if you drop this guy against an aggro deck on turn 2 and then just proceed to burn to face, burn to face, burn to face as you should, he will warrant you win the race.
May be a narrow sideboard card for burn, but I like it... A LOT, really.
Seriously.
Finally a creature with bestow that's actually playable in both modes! (other than Boon Satyr inb4 someone points it out)
Hexproof Auras may have a new friend, and this dude is amazing in both tokens.dec and auras.dec haha
won't turn standard upside down, but it's pretty decent.
Can't wait to curve Brimaz into bestowing this guy and attack.
it may not see play in constructed, but at least is something I read and want to use.
cool stuff.
Oracle of Bones is just a bad punisher card... 5/3 haste for 4 mana just isn't that powerful, and you'll almost never get to cast a card for free.
basically it reads 2RR 3/1 haste and If when it enters the battlefield, if you have a card in your hand, put 2 +1/+1 counters on it. Nothing to see here....
the bestow common cycle convinces me once and for all that bestow is my least favorite mechanic ever!
Ok, so wizards can't push it or it would become too good in limited...
fine...
they could at least make it interesting!
make it appeal to casual crowds by making the cards do cool stuff.
this cycle is AWFUL!
Would anyone play Unholy Strenght? Even in limited? Even in casual? maybe, but it's uninteresting, uninspired.
would anyone play it for 3B? No! Never! then they print it at 4B.
There are cards that appeal to contructed players by being really efficient for its cost, cards that appeal to limited players by being really powerful somehow, cards that appeal to casual crowds by doing cool stuff and well... there are cards that appeal to nobody.
I know they need to print bad cards to make the good cards look even better, but man... I really hate it when they print bad cards just for the sake of being bad.
This set has LOTS of decent uncommons, which is a pretty good thing, but where are the playable commons?!
really.