Historically it looks like it's actually a decent mix of custom-made art specifically for the playmats and art from cards. I see Skithiryx, Akroma and a few others in there.
This was a playmat for a GP last December that a lot of us here were hoping was art for Gatecrash last spoiler season. It hasn't shown up yet but the only other place it could (if i does at all) is in Dragons' Maze. I know GP playmat art is not typically card art but this has some points going for it:
1. This is a Raymond Swanland piece; Most GP playmat art is commissioned from artists that don't normally do Magic art.
2. Basically repeating the first point but the quality is much higher than that of typical GP playmat art.
3. Card art has been used in GP playmats before (Chandra Ablaze among others, though it has never been art from a set that wasn't out yet AFAIK)
4. It clearly ties into the Simic style guide
Someone always says this with every Planeswalker, but Ral Zarek is probably one of the most powerful Walkers we've seen since Liliana. I'm placing bets on him seeing play outside of Standard.
Oh wow. I can't believe I forgot about Frosty. He definitely beats Wurmcoil. He still loses to the Ooze on the draw, however. He also stalemates against Platinum Angel, whom I also forgot about.
So have we arrived at Primordial Ooze as the new card to beat? Glissa the Traitor and anything indestructible can only stalemate it. (Assuming no other qualities)
Okay what I'm realizing here is that this is very hard to balance. If you don't have a library but you can still deck out Ancestrall Recall beats everything. If we just arbitrarily say that you can't deck out then it also kills any mill oriented cards, which were already dead anyways because you don't have a deck, and the more arbitrary rules we tack on the less it looks like Magic and the more cards that simply don't function as intended.
10/10 Protection from Everything, 16/16 annhilator 6 protection from colored spells...
Really this is simple, look at the top reanimator targets and then eliminate anything that is good because it affects all else, like Iona or Elesh Norn
Wurmcoil kills both of them before they can be cast. Progenitus can stalemate Wurmcoil if Progenitus is on the play.
Edit: Wurmcoil actuall beats Progenitus regardless because has to take 18 on the play before he can cast it, then Wurmcoil splits into 2 when Progenitus blocks and then Wurm gets in for the last 3.
Well, for starters, you're wrong. Glissa has deathtouch...AND first strike. She kills anything she damages, INCLUDING in combat if it isn't indestructible or she doesn't have enough power to deal 1 to each blocking or blocked creature.
Glissa doesn't beat Wurmcoil because if Glissa and Wurmcoil both swing every turn Wurmcoil wins. If Wurmcoil doesn't swing and tries to block Glissa, Glissa wins. If Glissa doesn't swing and Wurmcoil does, she wins. But Glissa has to swing in order to win. So the best solution for both is to not swing and they stalemate.
Okay so I know this is compeletely pointless but it's a fun experiment my friends and I came up with. What is the best card in a game where you have 1 copy of 1 card and get a basic land every turn?
Right now our answer is Wurmcoil Engine. Can you think of a card that beats it in this scenario? Glissa the Traitor stalemates with it, but does anything beat it?
EDIT: My friends and I have continued discussing this and we have slightly revamped and clarified the rules.
1 Game (No match)
Stalemates are common and allowed
You have 1 card in hand at the start of the game, and that is your chosen card.
You do not have a deck or hand. You are given a basic land every turn of your choice that is put directly into play.
I've always thought that a Norse Mythology theme would fit Dega well, with a focus on Valhalla and Valkyries and all of that. White and Red share an interest in war, and Black wants power. White and Black share an interest in life & death, and Red and Black share an interest in chaos. The eternal battle of Valhalla fits those themes pretty well, imo.
I use new frames whenever possible, except I will always use black border over white even if it means using an old frame over a new frame. (looking at you, Planar Portal)
I am on Death and Taxes, my opponent is on Merfolk.
My opponent could have won the game, but he forgets to use his Merrow Reejerey triggers to tap my blockers. He puts me to 2. On my turn I hardcast a Batterskull, and I should be back in control of the game. So, I pass the turn, he draws, and then he casts two Gut Shots.
Historically it looks like it's actually a decent mix of custom-made art specifically for the playmats and art from cards. I see Skithiryx, Akroma and a few others in there.
1. This is a Raymond Swanland piece; Most GP playmat art is commissioned from artists that don't normally do Magic art.
2. Basically repeating the first point but the quality is much higher than that of typical GP playmat art.
3. Card art has been used in GP playmats before (Chandra Ablaze among others, though it has never been art from a set that wasn't out yet AFAIK)
4. It clearly ties into the Simic style guide
So here's hoping we get our Simic dragon!
Oh wow. I can't believe I forgot about Frosty. He definitely beats Wurmcoil. He still loses to the Ooze on the draw, however. He also stalemates against Platinum Angel, whom I also forgot about.
You do not.
Wurmcoil kills both of them before they can be cast. Progenitus can stalemate Wurmcoil if Progenitus is on the play.
Edit: Wurmcoil actuall beats Progenitus regardless because has to take 18 on the play before he can cast it, then Wurmcoil splits into 2 when Progenitus blocks and then Wurm gets in for the last 3.
Glissa doesn't beat Wurmcoil because if Glissa and Wurmcoil both swing every turn Wurmcoil wins. If Wurmcoil doesn't swing and tries to block Glissa, Glissa wins. If Glissa doesn't swing and Wurmcoil does, she wins. But Glissa has to swing in order to win. So the best solution for both is to not swing and they stalemate.
Right now our answer is Wurmcoil Engine. Can you think of a card that beats it in this scenario? Glissa the Traitor stalemates with it, but does anything beat it?
EDIT: My friends and I have continued discussing this and we have slightly revamped and clarified the rules.
1 Game (No match)
Stalemates are common and allowed
You have 1 card in hand at the start of the game, and that is your chosen card.
You do not have a deck or hand. You are given a basic land every turn of your choice that is put directly into play.
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