I am surprised this was printed. I believe it was MaRo that wrote an article on Wizards of the Coast's website about power creep and how there was an arms race between better removal and creatures that either had enter the board effects or hexproof/protection. I believe the conclusion was that by weakening removal it opened up the doors for them to make more creative and interesting creatures.
Many people find this standard format to be one of the best in a while and its due in part (arguably) to the very limited removal options.
It seems Ultimate Price allows for 2cc removal but also allows design to create powerful and interesting creatures (multicolored). It'll be interesting to see what, if anything, is printed to pair with Ultimate Price once bile blight and hero's downfall rotates out.
You modern guys realize WotC had to ban the two best blue card selection spells to prevent the format becoming combo-degenerate?
Modern does not need any blue draw spell that is better than what is already there, and WotC knows it. Blue combo decks are already big haymakers, winning pro tours and all. So look at it in the context and limit discussion for this to standard, where it belongs.
I am pretty sure wizards has said in design and development they don't concern themselves that much with how the card will affect modern. A bit, but they are focused on standard.
This is huge for standard control. Control decks haven't had anything to do on turn 2 for a while (Think Twice and Augur of Bolas). Permission and removal have become worse (more expensive and more conditional). This allows the deck to shave a land or two and still consistently hit land drops. Also allows you to search for answers early or pivot your playstyle in response to what your opponent is up to.
This + ojutai's command + jeskai sage + narset PW has me thinking UW/x control could be quite viable.
I build a deck that curves out at 6. It wins when I cast the 6 drop. I add an 8 drop. It still wins, but also wins if I cast the 6 drop into the 8 drop. Why did I add the 8 drop. Win more.
No.... that's bad deckbuilding, not win more.
Agreed. Control decks in particular can make good use of expensive finishers if they stall the game out long enough. Without colorless ramp or at the least good topdeck manipulation to ensure you consistently hit land drops Ugin certainly becomes more difficult to cast outside of green. Still, we have seen UB control and to a lesser extent UW control have the ability to stabilize consistently to where they have 8 lands. They can make games go long.
What these decks are missing is a good way to finish the game once they do. And Ugin provides just that. It all depends on what else is printed in the set, but if the format remains as slow and mid-range as it is now I wouldn't be surprised he is a 1-2 of in every control deck.
You must not be a control player. He board wipes as one of three options. Flexibility is powerful. And it's reusable. And it exiles (relevant against all these whip decks). And he hits enchantments, other planes walkers, and artifacts. Way more than End Hostilities does. And it doesn't require you to play white (or any color really).
Hornet queen requires you to play green and doesn't give you a board wipe option or inevitability. This fits better in a control she'll and it isn't even close.
Pearl Lake Ancient is an awful control finisher. It sees play because the only other real option in U is prognostic Sphinx.
This card is powerful enough to build around and possibly make a new deck or three. If not it should fit real nicely as a 1-2 of as a win con in control. I am not sure how wel he would fit in a green ramp deck.
Personally, I hope UR control becomes a thing in standard before he rotates out.
Control has been seriously lacking a finisher in standard. UB and to a lesser extent UW has been able to maintain board control. The format has slowed down quite a bit and this is an excellent finisher against Jeskai and Whip variants. Here is hoping for some good early (1-2cc) cantrip and/or card selection/disruption in blue.
Firstly, I would like to see an option to log in not just with email but the account name. Its a small thing, but there it is. Also, I do prefer the blue and black color scheme. Especially at night, it doesn't kill my eyes.
I also like the Cards tab and price, though I'm not sure where the price is coming from.
Recently had a great experience. I was looking to sell tix so that I could get back into paper magic (friends started playing again, etc). I was a little hesitant just handing over the tix, but the whole experience was simple, quick, and professional.
My questions either on Modo or via email were answered promptly and I received my check less than a week later with no problems whatsoever.
I have had the opposite experience when it comes to aggro. Yes, more players are durdling so a good aggro deck will shine. The problem is building a good aggro deck from a sealed pool. A good aggro deck wants a few things including the ability to consistently curve out.
Too early to tell with still over 100 cards left to be revealed. Having said that, they look pretty balanced so far. Some have compared Gruul to Golgari, but I think thats a bad comparison as Gruul seems to have access to fair bit of evasion.
I also disagree with regards to Dimir. Cypher wants evasive attacks. Holding down the fort while one or two creatures trigger cypher every turn fits nicely.
My ordering would place Orzhov and Dimir towards the top, but thats more a reflection of my preference for control when playing Sealed.
The Dimir charm's 'kill mode' has quite a bit of targets so far. Plenty of creatures with 2 power or less. If its true that GTC will be faster than RTR, then it'll only go up in value.
As far as the Gruul guildmage I think he's pretty great. A mana sink in RG fits nicely and seeing how green usually has beefy creatures at the best bang for your buck, the trample ability should be pretty relevant.
Dimir + Orzhov = yes! repeated Extort triggers, as stated above
Orzhov + Boros = no. Extort wants you to sit back and grind to victory, not attack with all your Extort triggers.
Boros + Gruul = yes! Bloodrush lets you get away with attacking to trigger Batallion
Gruul + Simic = no. turning d00ds into spells doesn't trigger Evolve.
Simic + Dimir = eh. having lots of Evolve creatures gives you plenty of Cipher targets
+1. I came in really wanting to play Dimir at the pre-release but Gruul is strongly persuading me. I definitely plays well with Boros so far.
Feels not quite right yet. I definitely wish I had some sort of sweepers, especially creature based so I could tutor them. I find that if I'm against any type of swarm deck I'm screwed. I know I'm definitely not playing the deck well yet, but its fun to learn.
I have a feeling I have too much ramp. I probably should throw some counters in there, but it seems bad form in Commander?
Here is a screenshot of the cards I was able to put together:
As for win conditions - probably not combo. More interested in winning with fatties and using the toolbox to deal with various threats like artifacts, enchantments, etc and just general utility.
Many people find this standard format to be one of the best in a while and its due in part (arguably) to the very limited removal options.
It seems Ultimate Price allows for 2cc removal but also allows design to create powerful and interesting creatures (multicolored). It'll be interesting to see what, if anything, is printed to pair with Ultimate Price once bile blight and hero's downfall rotates out.
I am pretty sure wizards has said in design and development they don't concern themselves that much with how the card will affect modern. A bit, but they are focused on standard.
This + ojutai's command + jeskai sage + narset PW has me thinking UW/x control could be quite viable.
Agreed. Control decks in particular can make good use of expensive finishers if they stall the game out long enough. Without colorless ramp or at the least good topdeck manipulation to ensure you consistently hit land drops Ugin certainly becomes more difficult to cast outside of green. Still, we have seen UB control and to a lesser extent UW control have the ability to stabilize consistently to where they have 8 lands. They can make games go long.
What these decks are missing is a good way to finish the game once they do. And Ugin provides just that. It all depends on what else is printed in the set, but if the format remains as slow and mid-range as it is now I wouldn't be surprised he is a 1-2 of in every control deck.
You must not be a control player. He board wipes as one of three options. Flexibility is powerful. And it's reusable. And it exiles (relevant against all these whip decks). And he hits enchantments, other planes walkers, and artifacts. Way more than End Hostilities does. And it doesn't require you to play white (or any color really).
Hornet queen requires you to play green and doesn't give you a board wipe option or inevitability. This fits better in a control she'll and it isn't even close.
Pearl Lake Ancient is an awful control finisher. It sees play because the only other real option in U is prognostic Sphinx.
This card is powerful enough to build around and possibly make a new deck or three. If not it should fit real nicely as a 1-2 of as a win con in control. I am not sure how wel he would fit in a green ramp deck.
Personally, I hope UR control becomes a thing in standard before he rotates out.
I also like the Cards tab and price, though I'm not sure where the price is coming from.
My questions either on Modo or via email were answered promptly and I received my check less than a week later with no problems whatsoever.
Highly recommended.
Too early to tell with still over 100 cards left to be revealed. Having said that, they look pretty balanced so far. Some have compared Gruul to Golgari, but I think thats a bad comparison as Gruul seems to have access to fair bit of evasion.
I also disagree with regards to Dimir. Cypher wants evasive attacks. Holding down the fort while one or two creatures trigger cypher every turn fits nicely.
My ordering would place Orzhov and Dimir towards the top, but thats more a reflection of my preference for control when playing Sealed.
As far as the Gruul guildmage I think he's pretty great. A mana sink in RG fits nicely and seeing how green usually has beefy creatures at the best bang for your buck, the trample ability should be pretty relevant.
+1. I came in really wanting to play Dimir at the pre-release but Gruul is strongly persuading me. I definitely plays well with Boros so far.
Here is the decklist (not a screenshot):
Artifacts/enchantments
Expedition Map
Sol Ring
Lightning Greaves
Simic Signet
Asceticism
Sorceries/Instants
Farseek
Cultivate
Kodama's Reach
Capsize
Genesis Wave
Creatures
Birds of Paradise
Jorga Treespeaker
Llanowar Elves
Slippery Boggle
Coiling Oracle
Elvish Visionary
Fauna Shaman
Plaxmanta
Priest of Titania
Sakura-Tribe Elder
Simic Guildmage
Aether Adept
Carven Caryatid
Farhaven Elf
Greenweaver Druid
Trinket Mage
Trigon Predator
Viridian Corrupter
Winged Coatl
Wood Elves
Solemn Silmulacrum
Clone
Jungle Barrier
Mystic Snake
Nantuko Vigilante
Oracle of Mul Daya
Venser, Shaper Savant
Wolfbriar Elemental
Yeva, Nature's Herald
Acidic Slime
Djinn of Wishes
Mulldrifter
Seedborn Muse
Silklash Spider
Wurmcoil Engine
Aethersnipe
Deadeye Navigator
Deadwood Treefolk
Sphinx of Magosi
Phyrexian Ingester
Simic Sky Swallower
Craterhoof Behemoth
Terastadon
Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger
Artisan of Kozilek
Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur
Planeswalkers
Garruk Wildspeaker
Feels not quite right yet. I definitely wish I had some sort of sweepers, especially creature based so I could tutor them. I find that if I'm against any type of swarm deck I'm screwed. I know I'm definitely not playing the deck well yet, but its fun to learn.
I have a feeling I have too much ramp. I probably should throw some counters in there, but it seems bad form in Commander?
Overall this has been a very fun deck, but definitely one thats taking time to get used to.
Here is version 2 of my deck:
Here is a screenshot of the cards I was able to put together:
As for win conditions - probably not combo. More interested in winning with fatties and using the toolbox to deal with various threats like artifacts, enchantments, etc and just general utility.