First of all I also tried to brew this deck, and totally missed the gemstone caverns interaction so props for finding that. As to answer your question, as a bant eldrazi player, I often find merfolk an annoying matchup but the three engineered explosives in the side usually make games 2 and 3 not lose-able (same for elves). I find the losses to big zoo interesting, as in my mind that should be a favorable matchup. If its the list with tarmogoyf and knight of the reliquary then it seems like having the full 4 relic of progenitus in your 75 would help. Engineered explosives also seems like it would help in this matchup, unless he's running gaddock teeg. Otherwise it seems like trading via blocking or double blocking with eternal scourge should be good enough. Finally its possible you might just need to add in drowner of hope as this usually seals games for me in bant (even without eldrazi displacer).
Counterbalance and cream of the crop seems far too slow for modern. However I could see a counterbalance deck that utilizes things like sage of epityr, reclaim, and delver of secrets. The important thing is to be able to control the top of your deck at instant speed, so there need to be instant speed scry spells. That's how I'd go about it anyway.
"Target Shapeshifter" means "Target Shapeshifter permanent."
Rules quote:
109.2. If a spell or ability uses a description of an object that includes a card type or subtype, but doesn't include the word "card," "spell," "source," or "scheme," it means a permanent of that card type or subtype on the battlefield.
i'm confused. when are you targeting crib swap? while it's on the stack? in the graveyard?
i don't think you can do that. i think, like you said, you can only target shapeshifters on the battlefield.
i would be interested in a ruling though because if you could target it on the stack that would be very interesting.
o ya, sorry, forgot to mention you'd be targeting it while its on the stack.
So just wondering, specifically why can't shapesharer use its ability on stuff like crib swap? Is it implied that that it can only target permanents that are shapeshifters?
Speaking of, this would have been just silly in most Reveillark decks. Possibly good enough for a try in extended with evoke? Seems to work well with that mechanic.
He isn't bad because he can't protect himself. He's bad because he doesn't do anything by himself, and he can't protect himself combined.
Ajani Goldmane was one of the best planeswalkers, but only protected itself with other creatures.
Jace Beleren doesn't protect itself.
Koth has an immediate impact on the board, as long as you play mountains. Because of that, he's better than Sarkhan Vol ever could be.
Jace Beleren is an exception to the rule as he comes down a turn before most other walkers. This is of itself is a form of survivability
The primary reason that Sarkhan was bad was he couldn't protect himself. The fact he needed creatures to make his first ability to work was the nail in the coffin.
The reason goldmane was good was because token producing in that format came in the form of bitterblossom and spectral procession, both cards that you could (and often did) play before goldmane. Also our favorite cat planeswalker could defend himself though his second ability giving attackers vigilance. This is where sarkhan falls short, the creatures that attack with his buff can't block and attack.
Koth is four damage on T4. 4 damage again on T5. and All your mountains become pingers on T6. And you only have to play normal magic to achieve that. How is that not good?
The Forgemaster is interesting and will probably inspire a lot of all in Artifact decks.
In a vacuum you are correct, however we only need to look at sarkhan vol to illustrate why planeswalkers who can't protect themselves are suspect of being a bad card. He had huge damage potential and swinging with his ult buddies straight up WINS you the game. Sure his damage isn't as reliable as Koth's is, in that you actually have to play creatures, but has utility in giving haste.
The point is that Koth, while powerful, is squishy. I can say that RDW is probably not his home. Instead I expect to see him in a sort of midrange kind of deck. Like flores suggests card combinations like basilisk collar +sparkmage and/or inferno titan coupled with some burn and X spells could make koth golden.
I'm sensing some major tricks with architect and myr galvanizer. Makes me sad to see etherium sculpter go. On an interesting note with so many artifact mana producers now (everflowing chalice, which works nicely with proliferate btw) I'm interested to see what decks will pop up in the new extended.
Initial thoughts, use the freshly spoiled myr galvanizer and grand architect with esper creatures for silly mana.
Also note how ridiculous master of etherium just got...
I'm curious, now -- how do you consistently get 5 mana on turn 3? Doing so requires that you have at the very least Land, Birds, Land, 2-mana accelerant, 2-mana accelerant in your starting hand, and assumes that your Birds doesn't get removed any time before turn 3. In my experience, such godhands are extremely unlikely, and even when you get them a turn 1 Duress still ruins your day and prevents you from hitting 5 on turn 3. If you mulligan, you're even more unlikely to get those 5 cards and still have gas to make good use of all that mana.
You need birds, a single 2 mana accelerant, and 3 lands to hit 5 mana on turn 3.
Turn 1: birds or llanowar elf (or noble if you play him)
Turn 2: either overflowing chalice or trace + a land
Turn 3: land
5 mana has been obtained
doesn't seem farfetched. Certainly not a god hand. If you run 8 1 drop manadudes thats a 66.1% chance of seeing at least one in your opening hand. Regardless I believe you missed my point, which was 5 mana on turn 3 will significantly increase your chances of winning. I understand that it is easily disruptible, and I believe I stated such was a frequent occurance against the boros deck.
That being said, I looooove making complicated obscure interactions. Knowledge pool is pretty funny with eye.
Hmm, ok, so does that imply that I could artificial evolution a hoofprints of the stag and then use it shapesharer on it?
o ya, sorry, forgot to mention you'd be targeting it while its on the stack.
Speaking of, this would have been just silly in most Reveillark decks. Possibly good enough for a try in extended with evoke? Seems to work well with that mechanic.
Jace Beleren is an exception to the rule as he comes down a turn before most other walkers. This is of itself is a form of survivability
The primary reason that Sarkhan was bad was he couldn't protect himself. The fact he needed creatures to make his first ability to work was the nail in the coffin.
The reason goldmane was good was because token producing in that format came in the form of bitterblossom and spectral procession, both cards that you could (and often did) play before goldmane. Also our favorite cat planeswalker could defend himself though his second ability giving attackers vigilance. This is where sarkhan falls short, the creatures that attack with his buff can't block and attack.
In a vacuum you are correct, however we only need to look at sarkhan vol to illustrate why planeswalkers who can't protect themselves are suspect of being a bad card. He had huge damage potential and swinging with his ult buddies straight up WINS you the game. Sure his damage isn't as reliable as Koth's is, in that you actually have to play creatures, but has utility in giving haste.
The point is that Koth, while powerful, is squishy. I can say that RDW is probably not his home. Instead I expect to see him in a sort of midrange kind of deck. Like flores suggests card combinations like basilisk collar +sparkmage and/or inferno titan coupled with some burn and X spells could make koth golden.
Initial thoughts, use the freshly spoiled myr galvanizer and grand architect with esper creatures for silly mana.
Also note how ridiculous master of etherium just got...
If such is true, I'm betting $50 its not goyf.
On a more relevant note, seems weird they would use the zero cost again so soon. Then again there aren't many more choices according to the orb.
You need birds, a single 2 mana accelerant, and 3 lands to hit 5 mana on turn 3.
Turn 1: birds or llanowar elf (or noble if you play him)
Turn 2: either overflowing chalice or trace + a land
Turn 3: land
5 mana has been obtained
doesn't seem farfetched. Certainly not a god hand. If you run 8 1 drop manadudes thats a 66.1% chance of seeing at least one in your opening hand. Regardless I believe you missed my point, which was 5 mana on turn 3 will significantly increase your chances of winning. I understand that it is easily disruptible, and I believe I stated such was a frequent occurance against the boros deck.