This card is kind of insane. Not only is it good with Kaalia (which I know I sure am the first person to ever say that) but it is actually a good control finisher. You can either search for another one, get a counter, get removal, or get some sort of random utility card with it. All on top of a 6/6 flier. If you Demonic Tutor for Demonic Tutor, you are either stupid, cheating, or both. If you get a Rune-Scarred Demon with Rune-Scarred Demon, you have a 6/6 flier and another one on the way that will get you another anything in your deck.
I am so glad this is an intro pack rare because this would cost some serious dough.
I have all of my over sized general cards misscut. Every single one. Oros doesn't look that bad (Heavenly Inferno Deck) but Khalia moves off the edge and so does the other one. I can put up some scans tomorrow if anyone wants to see them.
I think this card is not actually that good, because it always requires another specific card to be playable. Standard? Joraga Treespeaker. Otherwise you could be playing something for four mana instead. Legacy? AEther Vial. Otherwise you are playing cards that probably aren't good.
This card is not very comparable to Tarmogoyf because almost all creature based mana could get him out as well (as could AEther Vial).
I think this card is awesome. He is just so undercosted it isn't even funny. I think it can be argued that this creature is worth four mana (without the mana restriction of course), but instead of having to pay four mana for it you can play it and hold two mana for Mana Leak or a metalcraft Stoic Rebuttal or a Deprive. His interaction with Joraga Treespeaker is just awesome, as a turn two 5/6 while you already have a nice 1/1 that can make GG is just painful. His power (5) is a real shame in this format (although I think 6 power on this thing would make it too good) but if the Titans were to leave the format it wouldn't be a big deal at all. He also has an awesome amount of power to GASP threaten Jace! Jace can not move out of range of this guy with his +2 which is definitely relevant. Lightning Bolt doesn't kill Myr Superion. I could go on for hours. This guy will see play. I just couldn't tell you how much.
In Legacy he just does so much, I feel like he would be great for the format. Budget Tarmogoyf in decks that run AEther Vial? Yes please!
I completely disagree with you assessment of the card Dismember. For black, this is an absolutely excellent spell, maybe even better than grasp of darkness due to its dragon slaying ability and its ability to be splashed. However, four life is a high amount to lose to kill most creatures in limited. Sure, I'd pay 4 life to kill a Hoard Smelter Dragon any day, but how about to kill Priests of Norn, Blightwidow, or Ogre Resistor? No chance. Obviously I'm not arguing against the card when fighting Infect (I would sideboard it 100% of the time against Infect, no matter what), but against damage based decks, this card is not a 4.
I think its either a 3 or a 3.5, something I could figure out after getting to play with it.
Also, War Report is solidly a .5 for me (where as you placed it at zero). Against non-infect decks, this card can gain enough life to justify the cost, especially against cards like Myr Smith, where this card could potentially gain 15 or so life. Control decks with Blight Widows, Wall of Tanglecords and Priests of Norn could enjoy this card greatly after forcing the opponent to over commit. I would not be saying this if it wasn't for Phyrexian Mana, which is what gives this card a significant margin of usage in the sideboard.
I agree with your stances on the 1/4 Infect Guy who Proliferates for 3U and the Infect guy that when it takes damage it gives the source that many poison counters.
I think a sorcery speed shock for is totally printable. It would be somewhat similar to Moonglove Extract, but significantly more powerful (it would have to be uncommon to not hurt limited too much). Every color already has access to burn!
Could either of you expand on why Vintage is the exception to the rule?
In Vintage there is just such a gigantic amount of broken cards that you can actually make different decks out of them (Time Vault, Yawgmoth's Will, Mana Drain, Tinker) even if they are restricted. People who don't want to deal with restrictions play Vintage, people who want a slower format where a large amount of cards are allowed can play Legacy. Also, Vintage differs from Legacy through how cards are allowed. Legacy is more "fair" and Vintage is anything goes.
On another note, restricted cards in Vintage can still see play due to the high amount of tutors (everything from Imperial Seal to Enlightened Tutor).
EDIT: Wrote this while two other people beat me to it.
Just saying but you can kill her w/ 2 cards and 3 mana. Combust & a random "shock" Burn spell.
Although you're definitely right, Combust doesn't see a whole lot of play. And I don't think it would so that red could 2 for one itself to kill Elesh Norn.
Also, about this being an auto-win against red unless you are in burn range. You are likely going to be in burn range by the time Elesh Norn hits the field due to her mana cost of 7. But once on the field, there isn't a lot that can be done about her for red besides 2 or 3 for 1ing yourself. Unlike the Titans, you can't attack through her since she will kill all of your creatures (unlike say, Frost Titan who can only shut down two of your creatures when it comes out).
This card is literally an instant win against mono-red(unless you are in burn range). Not not only does it kill all of their creatures upon entering the battle field, it stops them from playing any more. Also, it takes a minimum three burn spells to take out. Not like it's always practical to play a seven mana card against mono red, but this card is just so powerful against red!
The lady is not only a realllllly expensive white pyroclasm, but she can beat for 4 and can block most titans and live. She's a must deal with card but she is not as good as a plethora of cheaper must deal with cards.
tl;dr She's good against red but that's kind of it.
I think I see where you're coming from, although you forgot the interaction with Contagion Clasp ;).
Alright I think Preordain has pretty much proven its worth in control decks with blue in them, so thats one suggestion. Also, maybe switch to a 3/1 split of Go For the Throat and Doom Blade in the main and 1/1 sideboard?
I see that the deck is a bit strapped for room so I don't know what I would cut for any of those cards.
Another thing I notice is the three Trinket Mages. He seems so good in here I don't get why you don't run four. Again I see that the deck is strapped for room, but he seems really good in your deck.
Really? I thought most extractions were black oriented usually ala cranial extraction? Doesnt mean its not blue, just sounds more like it could be either to me. Definitely an instant or sorcery though.
It could certainly be either, but I think that it is more likely to be a blue card, as we already had a black card for a buy a box promo this block. I don't think they would repeat buy a box promo colors inside a block.
I've yet to see any deck playing mountains in standard that has a legit excuse not to play bolt.
Pychosis Crawler could be fun but without Fling its just going to eat removal and die. I like Comet Storm but I like Red Sun's Zenith because if it eats a counter I don't instantly lose. I'll probably mix the two. I'm not playing Lightning Bolt because it doesn't do enough for me. If it could kill Jace, then I would run it. But it doesn't kill Jace. Any creature it kills I can kill with either Pyroclasm or Slagstorm, which both can kill more than one guy. I would occasionally use Lightning Bolt to finish someone off, but I don't see that as a good reason to make the deck less consistent. That's why I'm not running it.
I am so glad this is an intro pack rare because this would cost some serious dough.
This card is not very comparable to Tarmogoyf because almost all creature based mana could get him out as well (as could AEther Vial).
I think this card is awesome. He is just so undercosted it isn't even funny. I think it can be argued that this creature is worth four mana (without the mana restriction of course), but instead of having to pay four mana for it you can play it and hold two mana for Mana Leak or a metalcraft Stoic Rebuttal or a Deprive. His interaction with Joraga Treespeaker is just awesome, as a turn two 5/6 while you already have a nice 1/1 that can make GG is just painful. His power (5) is a real shame in this format (although I think 6 power on this thing would make it too good) but if the Titans were to leave the format it wouldn't be a big deal at all. He also has an awesome amount of power to GASP threaten Jace! Jace can not move out of range of this guy with his +2 which is definitely relevant. Lightning Bolt doesn't kill Myr Superion. I could go on for hours. This guy will see play. I just couldn't tell you how much.
In Legacy he just does so much, I feel like he would be great for the format. Budget Tarmogoyf in decks that run AEther Vial? Yes please!
I think its either a 3 or a 3.5, something I could figure out after getting to play with it.
Also, War Report is solidly a .5 for me (where as you placed it at zero). Against non-infect decks, this card can gain enough life to justify the cost, especially against cards like Myr Smith, where this card could potentially gain 15 or so life. Control decks with Blight Widows, Wall of Tanglecords and Priests of Norn could enjoy this card greatly after forcing the opponent to over commit. I would not be saying this if it wasn't for Phyrexian Mana, which is what gives this card a significant margin of usage in the sideboard.
I agree with your stances on the 1/4 Infect Guy who Proliferates for 3U and the Infect guy that when it takes damage it gives the source that many poison counters.
Instant speed however, would break it.
In Vintage there is just such a gigantic amount of broken cards that you can actually make different decks out of them (Time Vault, Yawgmoth's Will, Mana Drain, Tinker) even if they are restricted. People who don't want to deal with restrictions play Vintage, people who want a slower format where a large amount of cards are allowed can play Legacy. Also, Vintage differs from Legacy through how cards are allowed. Legacy is more "fair" and Vintage is anything goes.
On another note, restricted cards in Vintage can still see play due to the high amount of tutors (everything from Imperial Seal to Enlightened Tutor).
EDIT: Wrote this while two other people beat me to it.
Although you're definitely right, Combust doesn't see a whole lot of play. And I don't think it would so that red could 2 for one itself to kill Elesh Norn.
Also, about this being an auto-win against red unless you are in burn range. You are likely going to be in burn range by the time Elesh Norn hits the field due to her mana cost of 7. But once on the field, there isn't a lot that can be done about her for red besides 2 or 3 for 1ing yourself. Unlike the Titans, you can't attack through her since she will kill all of your creatures (unlike say, Frost Titan who can only shut down two of your creatures when it comes out).
The lady is not only a realllllly expensive white pyroclasm, but she can beat for 4 and can block most titans and live. She's a must deal with card but she is not as good as a plethora of cheaper must deal with cards.
tl;dr She's good against red but that's kind of it.
Alright I think Preordain has pretty much proven its worth in control decks with blue in them, so thats one suggestion. Also, maybe switch to a 3/1 split of Go For the Throat and Doom Blade in the main and 1/1 sideboard?
It looks like its for use with Creeping Tar Pit mainly, with a bunch of bonuses.
Trinket Mage can find it
Is an artifact for Phylactery Litch, Mox Opal, Tezzeret, etc.
Nice evasion for use with Tezzeret's make an artifact a 5/5 dude ability.
There are two things that jump out at me when looking at your list.
1. No Jaces? Both Jace Beleren and Jace the Mindsculptor look like they could go well in here.
2. No sweepers/good CA spells. Consume the Meek could work well in here, as could Black Sun's Zenith. Also, Consuming Vapors and Jace's Ingenuity work great in these types of decks.
I see that the deck is a bit strapped for room so I don't know what I would cut for any of those cards.
Another thing I notice is the three Trinket Mages. He seems so good in here I don't get why you don't run four. Again I see that the deck is strapped for room, but he seems really good in your deck.
It could certainly be either, but I think that it is more likely to be a blue card, as we already had a black card for a buy a box promo this block. I don't think they would repeat buy a box promo colors inside a block.
Pychosis Crawler could be fun but without Fling its just going to eat removal and die. I like Comet Storm but I like Red Sun's Zenith because if it eats a counter I don't instantly lose. I'll probably mix the two. I'm not playing Lightning Bolt because it doesn't do enough for me. If it could kill Jace, then I would run it. But it doesn't kill Jace. Any creature it kills I can kill with either Pyroclasm or Slagstorm, which both can kill more than one guy. I would occasionally use Lightning Bolt to finish someone off, but I don't see that as a good reason to make the deck less consistent. That's why I'm not running it.