How is Uba Mask a draw engine combined with Bazaar of Baghdad?
Uba Mask exiles the cards you would draw with Bazaar of Baghdad, so you don't have to discard them to the other of the Bazaar's effect, say, if you don't have any cards in hand when you activate it.
By the way, has anyone ever tried Mercadia's Downfall? I could see this being potent in a Hazezon/Rith token deck.
Yes, Doubling Season won't give you double the loyalty counters if you activate a planeswalker's "+" ability: adding counters is a cost of activating the ability, not an effect.
Wayfarer's Bauble and Farseek are good 2 CMC rampers that also help you mana fix (Farseek can search for Alpha/Ravnica duals)
Another reason for rarity is limited play: Pestilence was common in Urza's Saga - I heard that made for some pretty tough drafts - and became a more appropriate uncommon in Sixth Edition. Cards like Damnation should not be running rampant in limited environments, even were they to cost more mana.
That seems fundamentally disturbing. I mean, it's just a card game and all, but that screams out to me as a poor approach to anything in life.
After reading that forum posting I'm starting to agree with some EDH players - that Sheldon is a bit off his rocker when it comes to this stuff. He really doesn't seem to be even reading people's posts. No one is suggesting exceptions to be made. It's a rules change that would add 4 or 5 generals, not breaking anything in the process and simply increase the design space. I would probably be all for banning Memnarch, but its brokenness is not held back because of the rules - it's just a fluke that it's currently banned due to the rules.
In any case, I firmly believe that Sheldon is the prime example of someone in a position of power (relatively speaking of course, this IS a card game) that is doing illogical and sometimes damaging things just to maintain his "grip" on the format.
A similar charge was made a few weeks ago, and so it is worth repeating that the EDH rules committee consists of more than just Sheldon Menery. Perhaps he is the most influential member of the committee, I don't know, but he doesn't wield sole power over the EDH rules.
Yes, a Clone that enters the battlefield copying a Scion, which in turn is copying, say, a Dragon Tyrant, will enter as a Dragon Tyrant.
Relevant Comp. Rules entries:
706.2. When copying an object, the copy acquires the copiable values of the original object’s characteristics and, for an object on the stack, choices made when casting or activating it (mode, targets, the value of X, whether it was kicked, how it will affect multiple targets, and so on). The “copiable values” are the values derived from the text printed on the object (that text being name, mana cost, card type, subtype, supertype, expansion symbol, rules text, power, toughness, and/or loyalty), as modified by other copy effects, by “as . . . enters the battlefield” and “as . . . is turned face up” abilities that set characteristics, and by abilities that caused the object to be face down. Other effects (including type-changing and text-changing effects), status, and counters are not copied.
(Emphasis added.)
706.3. The copy’s copiable values become the copied information, as modified by the copy’s status (see rule 110.6). Objects that copy the object will use the new copiable values.
Example: Vesuvan Doppelganger reads, “You may have Vesuvan Doppelganger enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield except it doesn’t copy that creature’s color and it gains ‘At the beginning of your upkeep, you may have this creature become a copy of target creature except it doesn’t copy that creature’s color. If you do, this creature gains this ability.’” A Vesuvan Doppelganger enters the battlefield as a copy of Runeclaw Bear (a 2/2 green Bear creature with no abilities). Then a Clone enters the battlefield as a copy of the Doppelganger. The Clone is a 2/2 blue Bear named Runeclaw Bear that has the Doppelganger’s upkeep-triggered ability.
As for what happens at the end of turn, activating Scion's ability creates a continuous effect:
611.1. A continuous effect modifies characteristics of objects, modifies control of objects, or affects players or the rules of the game, for a fixed or indefinite period.
611.2. A continuous effect may be generated by the resolution of a spell or ability.
611.2a A continuous effect generated by the resolution of a spell or ability lasts as long as stated by the spell or ability creating it (such as “until end of turn”). If no duration is stated, it lasts until the end of the game.
...
611.2c If a continuous effect generated by the resolution of a spell or ability modifies the characteristics or changes the controller of any objects, the set of objects it affects is determined when that continuous effect begins. After that point, the set won’t change. (Note that this works differently than a continuous effect from a static ability.) A continuous effect generated by the resolution of a spell or ability that doesn’t modify the characteristics or change the controller of any objects modifies the rules of the game, so it can affect objects that weren’t affected when that continuous effect began.
(Emphasis added.) So if I am reading this right, the continuous effect created by activating Scion's ability applies only the original Scion. That continuous effect doesn't apply to the Clone that enters the battlefield later. So, from the above example, the Clone will remain a Dragon Tyrant and Scion will stop copying and go back to his old dragon self at the end of turn. Am I getting this right?
Farhaven Elf can be a second Wood Elves, although the former only lets you search for a basic land (Wood Elves can search for an original dual or a shock land); Ondu Giant is another option with a bigger butt for one more mana. Azusa, Lost but Seeking is amazing and pairs well, of course, with Seek the Horizon. I'm also a fan of Primal Growth, although it is a little situational, but is good for making use out of a little utility creature that's already served its purpose.
1: Yes, the Doppleganger will gain Cascade. However, its newly gained Cascade ability won't trigger, since the Doppleganger is already on the battlefied. Cascade only triggers when a spell with cascade is cast.
I would cut Ebony Owl Nesuke for Iron Maiden, since the former seems too situational, even with your Howling Mine effects.
As for surviving the mid-to-late game, I would probably replace some of your spot damage spells for more mass removal/damage. Perhaps cut Searing Wind for Molten Disaster, Firebreathing for Fault Line, and Spitting Earth for Destructive Force? (Destructive Force could also be a good way of locking the board in your favor).
All great suggestions, and I appreciate the feedback, but I was looking more for cards that also dealt with the Lands. Obliterate and company are good suggestions, but have the obvious downside of being less than friendly, and provide too much of a setback; I'd like to keep my artifact ramp if possible to gain the most advantage from the sweepers.
I forgot about it until now, but Devastation might fit the bill. It doesn't touch artifacts, so it won't hurt that side of your ramp, and it won't totally screw over anyone else who is using mana artifacts.
I get tired of people saying that changing such-and-such rule "dumbed down the game," e.g., taking damage off the stack, especially since players said the exact same thing when those rules were implemented in the first place.
Uba Mask exiles the cards you would draw with Bazaar of Baghdad, so you don't have to discard them to the other of the Bazaar's effect, say, if you don't have any cards in hand when you activate it.
By the way, has anyone ever tried Mercadia's Downfall? I could see this being potent in a Hazezon/Rith token deck.
Seachrome Coast et al. don't count themselves, so if it is your third land, it enters the battlefield untapped.
Wayfarer's Bauble and Farseek are good 2 CMC rampers that also help you mana fix (Farseek can search for Alpha/Ravnica duals)
Fault Line is an instant, Earthquake a sorcery. I'd rather pay the extra R for Fault Line.
I'll second the nomination for Genesis Wave, but would also like to test it some more.
There are reprints in expansions: Scars of Mirrodin has at least 16 reprints, by my count (check the spoiler, above).
A similar charge was made a few weeks ago, and so it is worth repeating that the EDH rules committee consists of more than just Sheldon Menery. Perhaps he is the most influential member of the committee, I don't know, but he doesn't wield sole power over the EDH rules.
Relevant Comp. Rules entries:
(Emphasis added.)
As for what happens at the end of turn, activating Scion's ability creates a continuous effect:
(Emphasis added.) So if I am reading this right, the continuous effect created by activating Scion's ability applies only the original Scion. That continuous effect doesn't apply to the Clone that enters the battlefield later. So, from the above example, the Clone will remain a Dragon Tyrant and Scion will stop copying and go back to his old dragon self at the end of turn. Am I getting this right?
Farhaven Elf can be a second Wood Elves, although the former only lets you search for a basic land (Wood Elves can search for an original dual or a shock land); Ondu Giant is another option with a bigger butt for one more mana. Azusa, Lost but Seeking is amazing and pairs well, of course, with Seek the Horizon. I'm also a fan of Primal Growth, although it is a little situational, but is good for making use out of a little utility creature that's already served its purpose.
2: [edit] I guess I was wrong (see below)
I would cut Ebony Owl Nesuke for Iron Maiden, since the former seems too situational, even with your Howling Mine effects.
As for surviving the mid-to-late game, I would probably replace some of your spot damage spells for more mass removal/damage. Perhaps cut Searing Wind for Molten Disaster, Firebreathing for Fault Line, and Spitting Earth for Destructive Force? (Destructive Force could also be a good way of locking the board in your favor).
Also, Shiv's Embrace, which isn't really worth the card disadvantage, should probably be Crown of Flames, Fiery Mantle, or Ghitu Firebreathing
I forgot about it until now, but Devastation might fit the bill. It doesn't touch artifacts, so it won't hurt that side of your ramp, and it won't totally screw over anyone else who is using mana artifacts.