With the recent banning of SSG (Simian Spirit Guide) Boros Prison loses a card that allows for earlier casting of some of its most important spells. With the card banned it doesn't feel as if there are any viable replacements which can replace it. It makes me feel as if a 3rd color (Probably green) is required which feels like it may water down the deck and its functionality. Thoughts?
The fact that the Crown and the Champion can both fetch these from anywhere (library or graveyard) definitely goes a long way to making the runes better. The fact they can be attached to any permanent isn't terrible either. There are some non-creature permanents that can become creatures too which means they benefit from the ability.
I don't normally go in for the old border art style but this one looks so cool In everything going on with Kaldheim I completely forgot this set was coming out.
Wait. You actually think that's he's right or that he's telling the truth? The guy's an idiot and that's being generous.
I haven't posted on here in close to a year but congratulations I logged in to tell you that Alpha Investments is wrong.
Just because you play one format doesn't mean that you don't play others. The playgroup that I belong to plays Commander, Modern and Standard. Some of us even play Legacy and Vintage.
I think the piece we're missing to understand Bolas's plan for Amonkhet has to do with the next block: Atlazan. We know Vraska will be in the set, and the last we heard of her was Ral Zarek telling Jace that she planeswalked away from Ravnica, but with "no destination" that Ral could detect. Given that Atlazan seems to be inspired by Atlantis, it seems likely the plane is "lost" in some way making it normally inaccessible to planeswalkers. Bolas may be trying to breach it in order to access some power source hidden there.
Where was it confirmed that the next block was Atlazan or that Vraska would be in it? If anything everything seems to be hinting at the next set (Hour of Devastation)
I found that this block of stories to start off very rocky with the first one. The second they seemed to find their legs with the characters and the setting and now with this third story I am definitely far more invested. I do have a few thoughts though after reading the comments here and the story though...
1: Bolas didn't create Amonkhet: This was a huge surprise for me and seems honestly far more intriguing.
2: The Gods look like they had their minds wiped: This makes it seem as if the Gods weren't the creation of Bolas either and makes one wonder if they had previously attempted to stand against Bolas and failed (Since there are 5 now rather than 8.)
3: I don't think that there is any connection to the 8 gods being a reference to Bolas's CMC. I mean no offense when I say this but it's taking two completely unrelated things and trying to connect them. (Also there is no Bolas in this set as the PW formula and Maro confirmation is that it's 3 PW in this set and 2 in the next.)
4: The edit to the story: Some people were certainly very passionate about the change being made and speculate that this is censorship. To me this seemed as if they had just adjusted the dialogue for clarification as the subject matter still very much exists.
I don't subscribe to the idea that WotC is 'sitting on the fence.' about representation considering card characters such as the Kings of Meletis and Alesha who Smiles at Death for sexual orientation and gender and I doubt they'll stop there. Many complaints have already been voiced that there isn't a lot of depth to the Gatewatch and that the stories up til now have been lackluster. Rushing romances without character building before-hand in an effort to make token references for the sake of inclusivity seems like a bad idea.
Taking the time to make meaningful characters who are not two dimensional and have a reason to actually fill the roles that you want would be better. (Not just story-wise but for inclusivity as well.)
5: Nissa's color change: I sincerely hope that this isn't a temporary change. One could argue that her ability to communicate with the plane is a form of telepathy (mind magic) as it is. Her desire to better understand and seek guidance while accepting the world for what it is makes perfect sense. She's been a solitary figure almost her entire life and it makes sense that now after a while of being around others that she starts to change and adapt (represented by a second color.) I wouldn't mind seeing secondary colors for other planeswalkers provided that they can come up with the justification for it.
6: Jace feels useless here: While we've seen Jace show up on Innistrad and do some poking around, he feels as if he's the weakest link in the Gatewatch with very little to contribute in comparison to his comrades. Also with being the Living Guildpact I'd like to see what has happened on Ravnica since he must have been gone at least months between both the stories of Kaladesh block and now Amonkhet.
We have Eldrazi scion tokens in standard still. This will not be hard to enable. Card seems fine though green and white still seem really strong by comparison.
So it appears that 'Crops' are confirmed to be training groups of people that are attempting the trials. Also kudos to creative for figuring out a way to use the zombies to handle everyday tasks so the living can all train to be super soldiers in Bolas's army.
I'm starting to wonder if Amonkhet's trials aren't just to produce Planeswalkers but an army of fierce and loyal warriors. It feels to me like Bolas is preparing for something and that the Planar Bridge might tie into this. Come with me on this journey....
Bolas knows that a threat is upcoming that he has to deal with. Bolas, not being one to get his own hands dirty when others will do and also one to love long-term schemes, creates an artificial plane from which he can grow and train an army that is willing to fight and die for him.
We know that Tezzeret stole the Planar Bridge from Kaladesh and took it to Amonkhet for Bolas.
Now, why would someone who can already planeswalk need or want an object that already does something that he can do? Simple, to transport others such as an army that he has been cultivating for many years.
I am willing to bet that Nicol Bolas is actually going to be dealing with another enemy (I'm hoping Phyrexians.) that poses a real threat to the multiverse and the Gatewatch interferes without knowing all the details and makes things worse for everyone.
It's been mentioned consistently that Ashiok's clothing is a mockery of popular styles worn in Theros. As much as I'd like to see a return of Ashiok, I believe that we already have a full cast already for this block.
So there were theories that the trials are being used to ignite planeswalker sparks and that Nicol Bolas was essentially harvesting these champions. I think that on the flavor text on one of the recently spoiled cards. (Cursed Minotaur) It mentions in the flavor text of the black zombie which is obviously dishonored and not embalmed. That "this" is what awaits them if they fail.
Now that may not seem like much but if you look at the name of the flavor text and the title... Djeru, initiate of Tah crop.
To my knowledge we don't have a designation yet for Tah but crop makes it feel as if it could very well be a prospective champion like in the theory that has been going around.
I don't have the time to reliably judge so if necessary I can instead drop from playing if required to make it easier for the judges we will hopefully have.
I haven't posted on here in close to a year but congratulations I logged in to tell you that Alpha Investments is wrong.
Where was it confirmed that the next block was Atlazan or that Vraska would be in it? If anything everything seems to be hinting at the next set (Hour of Devastation)
1: Bolas didn't create Amonkhet: This was a huge surprise for me and seems honestly far more intriguing.
2: The Gods look like they had their minds wiped: This makes it seem as if the Gods weren't the creation of Bolas either and makes one wonder if they had previously attempted to stand against Bolas and failed (Since there are 5 now rather than 8.)
3: I don't think that there is any connection to the 8 gods being a reference to Bolas's CMC. I mean no offense when I say this but it's taking two completely unrelated things and trying to connect them. (Also there is no Bolas in this set as the PW formula and Maro confirmation is that it's 3 PW in this set and 2 in the next.)
4: The edit to the story: Some people were certainly very passionate about the change being made and speculate that this is censorship. To me this seemed as if they had just adjusted the dialogue for clarification as the subject matter still very much exists.
I don't subscribe to the idea that WotC is 'sitting on the fence.' about representation considering card characters such as the Kings of Meletis and Alesha who Smiles at Death for sexual orientation and gender and I doubt they'll stop there. Many complaints have already been voiced that there isn't a lot of depth to the Gatewatch and that the stories up til now have been lackluster. Rushing romances without character building before-hand in an effort to make token references for the sake of inclusivity seems like a bad idea.
Taking the time to make meaningful characters who are not two dimensional and have a reason to actually fill the roles that you want would be better. (Not just story-wise but for inclusivity as well.)
5: Nissa's color change: I sincerely hope that this isn't a temporary change. One could argue that her ability to communicate with the plane is a form of telepathy (mind magic) as it is. Her desire to better understand and seek guidance while accepting the world for what it is makes perfect sense. She's been a solitary figure almost her entire life and it makes sense that now after a while of being around others that she starts to change and adapt (represented by a second color.) I wouldn't mind seeing secondary colors for other planeswalkers provided that they can come up with the justification for it.
6: Jace feels useless here: While we've seen Jace show up on Innistrad and do some poking around, he feels as if he's the weakest link in the Gatewatch with very little to contribute in comparison to his comrades. Also with being the Living Guildpact I'd like to see what has happened on Ravnica since he must have been gone at least months between both the stories of Kaladesh block and now Amonkhet.
Bolas knows that a threat is upcoming that he has to deal with. Bolas, not being one to get his own hands dirty when others will do and also one to love long-term schemes, creates an artificial plane from which he can grow and train an army that is willing to fight and die for him.
We know that Tezzeret stole the Planar Bridge from Kaladesh and took it to Amonkhet for Bolas.
Now, why would someone who can already planeswalk need or want an object that already does something that he can do? Simple, to transport others such as an army that he has been cultivating for many years.
I am willing to bet that Nicol Bolas is actually going to be dealing with another enemy (I'm hoping Phyrexians.) that poses a real threat to the multiverse and the Gatewatch interferes without knowing all the details and makes things worse for everyone.
Now that may not seem like much but if you look at the name of the flavor text and the title... Djeru, initiate of Tah crop.
To my knowledge we don't have a designation yet for Tah but crop makes it feel as if it could very well be a prospective champion like in the theory that has been going around.