Pretty sure my standard deck won't be changing at all even after BNG releases. I have yet to be impressed by anything they have spoiled so far. The art has been awesome though.
I was really excited for Theros to come out, but I haven't seen a single card in here besides Kiora that I have to have, and that's only because I collect planeswalkers. Value-wise, it doesn't seem like there's much of anything in this set, and since I'm not really into standard, there isn't much here either for me as a modern and EDH player.
At least Theros had three walkers, thoughtseize, and other cool cards. But I can't see myself ever buying a booster of this outside of maybe the pre-release since we can get Theros packs at it.
That Minature will almost always be a 5/3 with Haste, still seems alright. I would be surprised if Minatures impacted Standard, would be cool though.
Why, I'd rather let my opponent have a 3/1 and "get" to cast their instant speed burn/removal at sorcery speed while the creatures I care about are still in my hand.
A 40 dollar mythic rare would constitute a must have 4 of that goes in many decks.
Stats About Mythics
-Mythics are on average 40% rarer than pre-mythic rares
(old blocks about 200 rares, Mythic blocks 35+ mythics)
-They are printing more new cards a year not less
(about 665 now vs. 630 in most pre-mythic block)
-To drop the value of a rare by $1 a mythic must go up $2
-In a 3 year time span deck prices doubled. I am petitioning for the removal of mythic rarity. Sig this to join the cause.
This entire set has been a complete disappointment so far. From a flavour angle - It makes absolutely no sense for these things to be enchantments, to a mechanics angle - none of these mechanics are clicking with me. Tribute in particular just seems really, really bad. The punisher mechanic has always been meh, and this is just a limited version of it. I really loved monstrosity, and it's not coming back, only to be replaced by this subpar mechanic =(
Inspired is the new landfall, oh look I untap my creatures and I get stuff! Wow! This will lead to fun games. Oh wait Landfall didn't and neither will this.
I'm sure Limited will be fun, it almost always is, but I don't really play for limited.
and so far there really hasn't been any cool new uses for old mechanics either.
This nyxborn cycle is just symbolic of everything I'm disliking of this new set. Throw on some extra mana to make it an aura, overcost it, and call them all the same boring name and bam we got the least inspired cycle of limited filler I've ever seen.
Everything on this block is an enchantment, we get it. How about we see some more cool stuff to interact with enchantments so that it actually matters?
Even the new planeswalker was disappointing. We've waited for five years for THAT? No. Just no.
The best criticism I've heard so far is that this entire block is just design masturbation. Its an enchantment block, when enchantments have no intrinsic design space. Most of the 'new mechanics' is just arbitrarily slapping a supertype on a card that in 9 out of 10 cases either does nothing or is merely a mechanical requirement to be a licid.
The same could have been said for artifact blocks like urzas and mirrordin, but design and development both felt artifacts lent themselves to engines, which had some deep mechanical interactions- moreover, their set mechanics themselves had some good space for enginework.
Theros just feels like a very unnecessary entry so far. Take the same cards, lop off 'enchantment' supertype and you have a pretty vanilla and unremarkable set, besides the power shrivel. Lord knows bestow is just a less convincing rehash of soulbond which we saw just a couple years ago
Might been better if it costed RB2 but at RR2 meh honestly stop giving us 3-5 mana cost taurs. The deck will never be viable without some 1-2 mana cost. I was reading that WoTC has some rule about them having to be a minimum of 3 mana cost and if that is the case then idk. I dont think it could ever be competitive. Either way I'll give it a whirl. But my 45 rageblood shamans were really hoping to hit the tournament scene :/
The only time I can see the tribute not being paid is if you have no cards in hand. A 5/3 haste for 4 isn't threatening enough in EDH to risk allowing someone to cast a huge spell along with it.
It might be fun to get an opponent to give you a free Cruel ultimatum against the person in the lead in multiplayer, but I doubt it will work out for you often enough to run it.
5/3 haste with a drawback for 2RR is justifiable as a rare? Seems poor. Also, enjoy topdecking that card. Yeah, not gonna pay the Tribute when you have no cards in hand...enjoy your 4-mana Spike Jester.
The Nyxborn's aren't bad for limited, they're all pretty solid mid-picks...
But agh, it really doesn't feel good to get something so vanilla, especially after having already seen the Nymph cycle, which was all awesome for limited.
Private Mod Note
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Please check out my 360 unpowered, non-PW cube!
It's got more than 10 different strategies you can choose from.
Comment about it here.
Just remember, if a 5/3 haste with a downside is good, then why has Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch not seen a ton of play? I'm not sold on this minotaur, and I'm not sure what is even worth casting off of this guy.
Although I severely doubt the Shaman will see play, I think this comparison is a little disingenuous, so the least. There is a world of difference between a 5 power and a 4 power creatures in an aggro deck. A 4 power haster is good for 4, a 5 power haster is downright scary. Exava also has the rather severe downside of requiring two colors; although BRx aggro/midrange is a "thing", it's not particularly viable as an archetype right now for a few reasons. A mono-colored creature can go in any number of decks, where Exava is limited to a few niche rolls.
That said, the major problem with Shaman is that there isn't much I can honestly think I'd want to play off him, particularly considering that Fanatic is at the same CMC for mono-red, and there are far more relevant plays in most other decks that would run him. In fact, if run in straight RDW I would almost expect him to be a 3/1 most of the time, as those decks run relatively few burn spells, and it equates to less damage over time fairly quickly.
But honestly I just can't think of a deck that would really care for it.
5/3 haste with a drawback for 2RR is justifiable as a rare? Seems poor. Also, enjoy topdecking that card. Yeah, not gonna pay the Tribute when you have no cards in hand...enjoy your 4-mana Spike Jester.
The best criticism I've heard so far is that this entire block is just design masturbation. Its an enchantment block, when enchantments have no intrinsic design space. Most of the 'new mechanics' is just arbitrarily slapping a supertype on a card that in 9 out of 10 cases either does nothing or is merely a mechanical requirement to be a licid.
The same could have been said for artifact blocks like urzas and mirrordin, but design and development both felt artifacts lent themselves to engines, which had some deep mechanical interactions- moreover, their set mechanics themselves had some good space for enginework.
Theros just feels like a very unnecessary entry so far. Take the same cards, lop off 'enchantment' supertype and you have a pretty vanilla and unremarkable set, besides the power shrivel. Lord knows bestow is just a less convincing rehash of soulbond which we saw just a couple years ago
I agree with this. The worst part of all for me is how little it has done for non-rotating formats. Modern got Nykthos, Swan Song, Master of Waves, Anger of the Gods, and Thassa, and most of those are only fringe playable (hopefully Brimaz well do something in Modern). Legacy got Ashen Rider. That's all (though Spirit of the Labyrinth will see play). Can we please have some blocks like Innistrad again?
Also, nitpicking, but the Urza block was an enchantment block. The only reasons why everyone thinks of it as an artifact block are Mermory Jar, Tolarian Academy, and Tinker.
I can't be the only one who thinks Oracle should have been 1R 2/1 Haste with Tribute 1 just so R players can quit complaining about not getting a powerful 2 drop
Liliana of the Dark Realms? 3 whips of Erebos? 3 anger of the gods with 2 drown in sorrows MB?. I can't imagine what you would do if you played UW control.
I agree with this. The worst part of all for me is how little it has done for non-rotating formats. Modern got Nykthos, Swan Song, Master of Waves, Anger of the Gods, and Thassa, and most of those are only fringe playable (hopefully Brimaz well do something in Modern). Legacy got Ashen Rider. That's all (though Spirit of the Labyrinth will see play). Can we please have some blocks like Innistrad again?
Also, nitpicking, but the Urza block was an enchantment block. The only reasons why everyone thinks of it as an artifact block are Mermory Jar, Tolarian Academy, and Tinker.
True point, but personally when I think urza's I'm somehow stuck with thran dynamo in my mind. The reminder that wizards will never again print a card voltaic key could possibly combo with, which they reminded us by printing voltaic key
today's spoilers aren't anything but total crap. By far the worst day for spoilers. the oracle of bones is the best card spoiled and it has no chance of seeing constructed play. Tribute is more or less just a variation of the punisher mechanic and the opponent is obviously going to pick whichever is better for them.
Liliana of the Dark Realms? 3 whips of Erebos? 3 anger of the gods with 2 drown in sorrows MB?. I can't imagine what you would do if you played UW control.
Back to the drawing board for you
Too tired at the moment but slaugther games : aertherling , elspeth and or sphinx's revelation helps and cremate elixir kill put pression,. games on dissolve and you will not be countered....
the cards i put was just what i happened to remember , the list is a exemple.
At least Theros had three walkers, thoughtseize, and other cool cards. But I can't see myself ever buying a booster of this outside of maybe the pre-release since we can get Theros packs at it.
Why, I'd rather let my opponent have a 3/1 and "get" to cast their instant speed burn/removal at sorcery speed while the creatures I care about are still in my hand.
Stats About Mythics
-Mythics are on average 40% rarer than pre-mythic rares
(old blocks about 200 rares, Mythic blocks 35+ mythics)
-They are printing more new cards a year not less
(about 665 now vs. 630 in most pre-mythic block)
-To drop the value of a rare by $1 a mythic must go up $2
-In a 3 year time span deck prices doubled.
I am petitioning for the removal of mythic rarity. Sig this to join the cause.
I like the basic idea of the Astronomer, at least.
The Nyxborn "vanilla" bestow cycle looks cool, but feels to me a bit like a step backwards.
And doom blade. Yeay 2 for 1.
I don't see why a 3/1 haste or a 5/3 haste for 4 is really that exciting.
It's a bronze sable with upside. I don't see what's not to like.
URNiv-Mizzet, Burn
UW Geist, Pillow Fort
WBGGhave, Tokens
BR Olivia, Tribal
The best criticism I've heard so far is that this entire block is just design masturbation. Its an enchantment block, when enchantments have no intrinsic design space. Most of the 'new mechanics' is just arbitrarily slapping a supertype on a card that in 9 out of 10 cases either does nothing or is merely a mechanical requirement to be a licid.
The same could have been said for artifact blocks like urzas and mirrordin, but design and development both felt artifacts lent themselves to engines, which had some deep mechanical interactions- moreover, their set mechanics themselves had some good space for enginework.
Theros just feels like a very unnecessary entry so far. Take the same cards, lop off 'enchantment' supertype and you have a pretty vanilla and unremarkable set, besides the power shrivel. Lord knows bestow is just a less convincing rehash of soulbond which we saw just a couple years ago
best i can figure is they assume nobody is ever going to not pay tribute unless you have an empty hand, so most of the time he passes the test.
that would be sweet. also, i've been anxiously awaiting a new 1/1 white flying Pegasus token for years.
see? it is good for something!
It might be fun to get an opponent to give you a free Cruel ultimatum against the person in the lead in multiplayer, but I doubt it will work out for you often enough to run it.
But agh, it really doesn't feel good to get something so vanilla, especially after having already seen the Nymph cycle, which was all awesome for limited.
It's got more than 10 different strategies you can choose from.
Comment about it here.
Although I severely doubt the Shaman will see play, I think this comparison is a little disingenuous, so the least. There is a world of difference between a 5 power and a 4 power creatures in an aggro deck. A 4 power haster is good for 4, a 5 power haster is downright scary. Exava also has the rather severe downside of requiring two colors; although BRx aggro/midrange is a "thing", it's not particularly viable as an archetype right now for a few reasons. A mono-colored creature can go in any number of decks, where Exava is limited to a few niche rolls.
That said, the major problem with Shaman is that there isn't much I can honestly think I'd want to play off him, particularly considering that Fanatic is at the same CMC for mono-red, and there are far more relevant plays in most other decks that would run him. In fact, if run in straight RDW I would almost expect him to be a 3/1 most of the time, as those decks run relatively few burn spells, and it equates to less damage over time fairly quickly.
But honestly I just can't think of a deck that would really care for it.
2 Drown in Sorrow
4 Dreadbore
1 Fated Conflagration
2 Searing Blood
3 Anger of the Gods
4 Hero's Downfall
3 Slaughter Games
1 Rise of the Dark Realms
2 Liliana of the Dark Realms
2 Mogis, God of Slaughter
4 Oracle of Bones
3 Whip of Erebos
4 Temple of Malice
4 Blood Crypt
8 mountain
7 swamp
top deck a 3/1 haste is not good?
I agree with this. The worst part of all for me is how little it has done for non-rotating formats. Modern got Nykthos, Swan Song, Master of Waves, Anger of the Gods, and Thassa, and most of those are only fringe playable (hopefully Brimaz well do something in Modern). Legacy got Ashen Rider. That's all (though Spirit of the Labyrinth will see play). Can we please have some blocks like Innistrad again?
Also, nitpicking, but the Urza block was an enchantment block. The only reasons why everyone thinks of it as an artifact block are Mermory Jar, Tolarian Academy, and Tinker.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
I do enjoy drinking the tears of "if this isn't netdeckable it has to be garbage" crowd though
Do go on
Liliana of the Dark Realms? 3 whips of Erebos? 3 anger of the gods with 2 drown in sorrows MB?. I can't imagine what you would do if you played UW control.
Back to the drawing board for you
True point, but personally when I think urza's I'm somehow stuck with thran dynamo in my mind. The reminder that wizards will never again print a card voltaic key could possibly combo with, which they reminded us by printing voltaic key
Many thanks to DNC at Heroes of the Plane Studios
Too tired at the moment but slaugther games : aertherling , elspeth and or sphinx's revelation helps and cremate elixir kill put pression,. games on dissolve and you will not be countered....
the cards i put was just what i happened to remember , the list is a exemple.