"Would you agree this: If we make a list of Top-20 nonbasic lands of Magic (not including duals), we would definitely see Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle in that list"
hmm ... sorry I dont. Even if it is great & powerful, I dont see it into that top 20 lands list along with cards like wasteland, strip mine, T. academy, any fetchs, maze of ith, bazaar, workshop or even karakas... but yea, it definitly belongs to the great inovations though ;)
Imo iona deserved an honorable mention also as she introduced a crazy powerful effect into the game and still see play today in the most broken formats (as terastodon does btw). Another card i really enjoyed to see was surprinsingly Nature's Claim, probably the best 1cmc disenchant effect (the only ? i dont know ... good question). This tiny instant is pretty handy, and will be still ran for a moment I think
You should really check out the other articles by Cotton Rhetoric then. He's arguably the best writer on this whole site (to me, at least). He also subtly teaches some valuable lessons about how you can have fun with this game without being a Spike.
I am going to keep doing the NMS sealed from here on out. All you need to enter is pax and you keep everything and potentially win more pax. But I am card value mongering at this point. If I want more play value, I do drafts.
I have so many NMS commons/uncommons at this point.
This is all new to me. MTGO is certainly not of short niche formats. I like this one. It is like Commander without having to cast your general and no 'highlander' restrictions.
The reason I like Civilized Scholar/Homicidal Brute is because it fits into the looter/Goryo's Vengeance decks so well. It loots, you discard emrakul and reanimate him, then the brute provides the extra 5 damage that Emrakul can't.
1. Force of Will
2. Brainstorm
3. Bazaar of Baghdad
4. Mishra's Workshop
5. Lodestone Golem
6. Oath of Druids
7. Tinker
8. Wasteland
9. Qasali Pridemage
10. Time Vault
Really enjoyed your discussion on the various mechanics and got a lot of good insights out of it. Especially liked your comments about the cards Steve Sadin is given to preview on the mothership. I never noticed that before.
The zooming in the first video is insanely annoying. Also, you kept zooming in on cards in the draft, while discussing the rest of the pack (which we couldn't see).
Very nice job. I enjoyed watching that deck. One deck I would like to see your take on is a Death's Shadow deck or something with Immolating Souleater. I was thinking along the lines of a lifelink deck with the souleater, maybe a fling ability. May need to be R/U/W.
Should have had a CMC limit (2-3), should have had a higher cost, or should have just made you pay the cost of the equipment being vialed in. In fact, if you just had to do it on your turn only it would have been much closer to fair. Uncounterable is fine, but doing it on their turn for a low cost after you already got to tutor, all for 4 mana total just was way beyond overpowered.
EDIT as much as I love the current core sets, they don't really compare to the first 4-5... duals, sol ring, vampiric tutor, etc all in those sets. The overall card quality did suck, but look at the power level of a lot of those cards! As far as 7th-on (basically modern core sets) it is the best by far.
More fans is always a good thing. Glad you are enjoying the show.
Snapcaster Mage is growing on me the more that I think about him, esp with the new modern bannings. I'm already dreaming of gifts ungiven for mage, noxious revival, and any 2 cards :D
I like how you address the tutor ability of Stoneforge Mystic. I agree that it would not have been OP if it cost one mana more and didn't vial. The Vial ability didn't really even matter that much until they printed Batterskull. Still, things that bring in uncounterable trumps are not good. I agree that WotC should have known better.
I mean, the discussion on Sebastian's B&R article illuminated the fact that control has a hard time due to needing to 1-for-1 and not being able to draw out of it. Seems like banning cloudpost MIGHT have made Baby Jace playable which means that there is a slightly better card draw engine than Thirst/Compulsive Research....
well, i wouldnt say i dispise it, its just not my cup of tea cause there is no broken plays, however, it doset stop broken plays which i also enjoy. as for your clan mates, well. soryy. i had to beat one of my own as well as steal the win from a really cool deck in rd4.
5. Altar's Reap- card draw, instant, gain value from Morbid or "die" abilities....
4. Snapcaster Mage- I mean, the implications....Maybe not awesome in standard (yet), but great in eternal formats
3. Dual Lands- yay.
2. Dissipate- Am I the only one who noticed how terrible Mana Leak is? This is a welcomed reprint, IMO.
1. Brimstone Volley...deal 3 or 5 if you are morbid... So Artillerize and this are in the same format?
Looks like you guys got another fan, whether you like it or not :P.
The lack of any super powerful consistency in combo and the banning of cloudpost makes control more viable by itself. While I wish they had unbanned Ancestral Visions to give control a little more oomph, control can _actually_ exist now. The format looks better than before. I look forward to seeing how the format shapes up.
While for once I actually agree on the cards banned to address UR combo given the philosophy (i.e. I would also go for Rite, Ponder and Preordain), I am extremely disappointed that WotC is sticking to this slippery slope philosophy. They should have unbanned control cards instead (or at least, on top of banning less of the combo cards).
It is sort of funny that they actually went for Green Zenith (something from Zoo gets hit - the one that was also used by 12-post and Melira though... Funny, no?)... That is at least somewhat consistent given the power level of some other cards banned at the outset of the format. Although it is ridiculous that Tarmogoyf is still in the format. Talk about diversity...
I had high hopes for Modern. I'll keep looking every 3 months to see what WotC is doing with it.
Exactly. Ponder and Preordain are central to the deck in a way, but that doesn't mean they aren't replaceable. Sleight and Serum Visions should work fine since everyone else's card selection goes down as well.
The difference between 1 mana card selection and two mana (like Telling Time) is huge because 1 mana spells are incorporated into every turn fairly easily. The 2 mana card needs to be pretty amazing to be played over a similar 1-mana one. Like Impulse.
Wow, thanks!
This is a nice change of pace from all those "cotton should stop writing" comments I get
I enjoyed a lot this article.
I just would add some comments
"Would you agree this: If we make a list of Top-20 nonbasic lands of Magic (not including duals), we would definitely see Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle in that list"
hmm ... sorry I dont. Even if it is great & powerful, I dont see it into that top 20 lands list along with cards like wasteland, strip mine, T. academy, any fetchs, maze of ith, bazaar, workshop or even karakas... but yea, it definitly belongs to the great inovations though ;)
Imo iona deserved an honorable mention also as she introduced a crazy powerful effect into the game and still see play today in the most broken formats (as terastodon does btw). Another card i really enjoyed to see was surprinsingly Nature's Claim, probably the best 1cmc disenchant effect (the only ? i dont know ... good question). This tiny instant is pretty handy, and will be still ran for a moment I think
Waiting for next articles
You should really check out the other articles by Cotton Rhetoric then. He's arguably the best writer on this whole site (to me, at least). He also subtly teaches some valuable lessons about how you can have fun with this game without being a Spike.
I am going to keep doing the NMS sealed from here on out. All you need to enter is pax and you keep everything and potentially win more pax. But I am card value mongering at this point. If I want more play value, I do drafts.
I have so many NMS commons/uncommons at this point.
Good work, Tyler.
This is all new to me. MTGO is certainly not of short niche formats. I like this one. It is like Commander without having to cast your general and no 'highlander' restrictions.
thanks.
The reason I like Civilized Scholar/Homicidal Brute is because it fits into the looter/Goryo's Vengeance decks so well. It loots, you discard emrakul and reanimate him, then the brute provides the extra 5 damage that Emrakul can't.
1. Force of Will
2. Brainstorm
3. Bazaar of Baghdad
4. Mishra's Workshop
5. Lodestone Golem
6. Oath of Druids
7. Tinker
8. Wasteland
9. Qasali Pridemage
10. Time Vault
Really enjoyed your discussion on the various mechanics and got a lot of good insights out of it. Especially liked your comments about the cards Steve Sadin is given to preview on the mothership. I never noticed that before.
Any plans to do a set review?
The zooming in the first video is insanely annoying. Also, you kept zooming in on cards in the draft, while discussing the rest of the pack (which we couldn't see).
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anytime you can find me online brother. :)
Very nice job. I enjoyed watching that deck. One deck I would like to see your take on is a Death's Shadow deck or something with Immolating Souleater. I was thinking along the lines of a lifelink deck with the souleater, maybe a fling ability. May need to be R/U/W.
Im excited by the reprint even whilst wishing for more. :d
The vial ability:
Should have had a CMC limit (2-3), should have had a higher cost, or should have just made you pay the cost of the equipment being vialed in. In fact, if you just had to do it on your turn only it would have been much closer to fair. Uncounterable is fine, but doing it on their turn for a low cost after you already got to tutor, all for 4 mana total just was way beyond overpowered.
EDIT as much as I love the current core sets, they don't really compare to the first 4-5... duals, sol ring, vampiric tutor, etc all in those sets. The overall card quality did suck, but look at the power level of a lot of those cards! As far as 7th-on (basically modern core sets) it is the best by far.
Back to the drawing board , I am afraid.
I am thinking about Hive Mind and some UB Teachings or Reanimator deck...
Test sometime, gamemaster Keya?
More fans is always a good thing. Glad you are enjoying the show.
Snapcaster Mage is growing on me the more that I think about him, esp with the new modern bannings. I'm already dreaming of gifts ungiven for mage, noxious revival, and any 2 cards :D
I like how you address the tutor ability of Stoneforge Mystic. I agree that it would not have been OP if it cost one mana more and didn't vial. The Vial ability didn't really even matter that much until they printed Batterskull. Still, things that bring in uncounterable trumps are not good. I agree that WotC should have known better.
Good work, sir.
Believe me, we like getting fans. :)
I mean, the discussion on Sebastian's B&R article illuminated the fact that control has a hard time due to needing to 1-for-1 and not being able to draw out of it. Seems like banning cloudpost MIGHT have made Baby Jace playable which means that there is a slightly better card draw engine than Thirst/Compulsive Research....
Love this deck, BTW.
well, i wouldnt say i dispise it, its just not my cup of tea cause there is no broken plays, however, it doset stop broken plays which i also enjoy. as for your clan mates, well. soryy. i had to beat one of my own as well as steal the win from a really cool deck in rd4.
Again, awesome show guys.
5. Altar's Reap- card draw, instant, gain value from Morbid or "die" abilities....
4. Snapcaster Mage- I mean, the implications....Maybe not awesome in standard (yet), but great in eternal formats
3. Dual Lands- yay.
2. Dissipate- Am I the only one who noticed how terrible Mana Leak is? This is a welcomed reprint, IMO.
1. Brimstone Volley...deal 3 or 5 if you are morbid... So Artillerize and this are in the same format?
Looks like you guys got another fan, whether you like it or not :P.
The lack of any super powerful consistency in combo and the banning of cloudpost makes control more viable by itself. While I wish they had unbanned Ancestral Visions to give control a little more oomph, control can _actually_ exist now. The format looks better than before. I look forward to seeing how the format shapes up.
I just read the b/r list. I feel like it's Wizards way of saying "PLAY MORE ZOO G. DAMMIT"
While for once I actually agree on the cards banned to address UR combo given the philosophy (i.e. I would also go for Rite, Ponder and Preordain), I am extremely disappointed that WotC is sticking to this slippery slope philosophy. They should have unbanned control cards instead (or at least, on top of banning less of the combo cards).
It is sort of funny that they actually went for Green Zenith (something from Zoo gets hit - the one that was also used by 12-post and Melira though... Funny, no?)... That is at least somewhat consistent given the power level of some other cards banned at the outset of the format. Although it is ridiculous that Tarmogoyf is still in the format. Talk about diversity...
I had high hopes for Modern. I'll keep looking every 3 months to see what WotC is doing with it.
Ivo.
I'm actually glad that they were banned, and while this deck gets worse, every other deck gets worse as well, so it's fine by me.
Exactly. Ponder and Preordain are central to the deck in a way, but that doesn't mean they aren't replaceable. Sleight and Serum Visions should work fine since everyone else's card selection goes down as well.
The difference between 1 mana card selection and two mana (like Telling Time) is huge because 1 mana spells are incorporated into every turn fairly easily. The 2 mana card needs to be pretty amazing to be played over a similar 1-mana one. Like Impulse.