I don't blame Wizards' site for being down. After all, there's 534 people viewing just this thread. That being said, I like the new Rhys and I certainly hope I get a copy or two of that for my elf deck. The scarecrow is cool, it's a fixed Triskelon. I love the Avatar, it's got a nice ability for the W/U avatar. Oh, and I infinitely love our untap symbol better.
I had really hoped they wouldn't use -1/-1 counters, those would be confusing as hell with all the +1/+1 counters going around.
Well, don't forget that +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters are like matter and anti-matter. As soon as they touch each other, they disappear. So only one will be on a card at a time.
I think people are a little hard on Rhys. Not Constructed material, but he's a lot more fun than the Rhys in Morningtide.
Godhead of Awe isn't as impressive as the Demigod in some ways, but I think is quite good nonetheless: being able to neutralize so many other creatures with an ongoing effect like that will have a lot of use, and evasion means she'll work as a finisher, of course.
This seems to establish that the purpose of the scarecrows is just to be a whole mess of artifact creatures, not really to be unified in any one mechanical theme (though both of these use -1/-1s in some way.)
The Q symbol is sweet. (We'd better get a more accurate one up into the smilies.) Good call, everyone who suggested they would invert it in order to make it stand out better.
These hybrid cards all seem to fall down in one of the two categories we'd suggested for hybrid design: abilities that fit at least tentatively in both (like the Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers), but much more on the abilities that sort of fit into a mysterious middle area between the colors.
I had really hoped they wouldn't use -1/-1 counters, those would be confusing as hell with all the +1/+1 counters going around.
I take it to mean that Leech Bonder untaps as a part of the activation cost? Now, can he use the ability if he's already untapped? I don't think so, but I'm not sure. (Recalling an Ask Wizards where they errata'ed tapper/untappers to say "you may", I think the reason being that you couldn't untap an untapped creature.)
Pretty sure you can untap an untapped creature... but as a cost, the creature MUST be tapped for the untappy cost to be paid.
I like the cards in Shadowmoor so far! The power level seems much slower than Lorwyn and that's the way I like it.
@ Dragonmaster: Triskelion saw play, didn't it? And that was 7 mana.
Well, it is 6 mana, and it can be played off of workshop and I doubt it would be the default answer to weenie rush in any deck, because many mana-bases to not reach 7 until very late game and basically, I don't think that is a good comparison.
ARGH - They give the other hybrid creatures useful creature classes (the merfolk rogue and the kithkin soldier) but they go and make the elf a knight.....ARGH.
Well, it is 6 mana, and it can be played off of workshop and I doublt ti would be the default answer to weenie rush in any deck, because many mana-bases to not reach 7 until very late game and basically, I don't think that is a good comparison.
yeah...messed up on the CC, and I'm not saying it's a "default answer," but the fact that you can have a 4/4 that can kill off 1-3 creatures for 7 mana doesn't sound that bad.
I like that Q so far requires a limited element (-1/-1 counters and creatures on your yard) which prevents broken interactions... but I'm sure they'll slip up.
Leech bonder's alright-ish, thankfully he's a merfolk so he's easy to tap
Wingrattle Scarecrow seems like another part of a cycle
Inkfathom Infiltrator is very cool, no combat damage for him!
Ballyknock Cohort seems like a solid card in limited and maybe constructed
Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers is definitely the best of the lot.
EDIT: Didn't cath the cavaliers was a knight, AWESOME!
Elspeth "we must fight to protect order and justice!"
Tezzeret "No! he will break all my artifacts and stomp my head!"
Vol "powerful dragon must be brought to heel!"
Ajani "**** this Im outta *planeswalks to lorwyn* wow what hell is this place?"
Little lorwyn goblin "this be the place of bad art and Tribes!!!"
All other Alara planeswalkers "hey where did ajani go???"
well im saying peopel are going to hard on rys and the scarecrow as theya re both bad ass. o and i think glittering wish will become good if we can get more good color hybrids liekt his. and the 3/4(im blanking on names here) is going as a 4x in my block aggro as its bad ass. jsut my 2 cents
"Crovax Connections" does sound like a friendly corner store run by your local Ascendant Lord
I bet we have a case of Jon Finkel sleeping with the girl, then never calling her again and she going bat #%^% crazy and writing this article case closed.
First PTQ top 8 6/13/09(1st) Second PTQ top 8 10/7/09(5th) Second at national Qualifier 5/15/10
Third PTQ top 8 2/12/11 (2nd)
Second at Alberta 2011's
Fourth PTQ top 8 3/17/12(8th)
GP Vancouver 2012 (18th)
Now that elves are white and all goody-goody, they kind of look like skinny kithkin. But the new kithkins just look like unbathed kithkin.
So far, I thinkt he best card is leech bonder, just because of all the -1/-1 counters and persist in the game, being a mermaid (with the tapping and untapping), and you can also steal +1 counters from opponent's creatures.
ARGH - They give the other hybrid creatures useful creature classes (the merfolk rogue and the kithkin soldier) but they go and make the elf a knight.....ARGH.
yeah...messed up on the CC, and I'm not saying it's a "default answer," but the fact that you can have a 4/4 that can kill off 1-3 creatures for 7 mana doesn't sound that bad.
Well, I think other cards, even serrated arrows or bottle gnomes would be better answers because they come online much faster which is clearly important against aggro and gnome gains life. This card could find some use, but it doesn't seem particularly good for t2 at least.
I may be reading too much into this, but the title of MaRo's article is "Shadowmoor than meets the eye" (I know this is a transformers reference before anyone says it) and at the end of the article, he says, "Until next time, may you enjoy hiding things in plain sight."
Could someone tell me what this Triskilion like creature is. I don't see one anywhere in this post, and Wizards.com died as far as tonight is concerned.
7cc, 4/4, comes into play with 3 -1/-1 counters, and you may move them from the scarecrow to any creature at no cost.
Rhys is amusing. a 1/1 elf for 1 mana isnt bad. But its legendary so its a 3 of in most decks. Maybe 4. It does allow some late game potential but lets be frank.... so does Imperious Perfect. She drops at 3, instead of 1, but 1 mana to play those elves.. and they're 2/2's.
Maybe in white, as a 1 drop but even then....
I dont really see him being played in most elf decks. Not even casual.
The Grim Poppet has amazing art, but, it has a fundamental flaw. a 7 cost 1/1 isnt great. Against another control deck, or when your opponent has no creatures, that's all it is. Against a weenie rush deck its too slow without some serious acceleration. He'll see play as a 1 of in big mana decks.... but that's about it.
Love the art thoguh.
The Godhead is everything I hate about magic. 5 colored mana 4/4 flyer is good. But 5 COLORED mana means no artifact colorless, or mutavault, or desert mana.... so sometimes he'll cost more.
The ability to shrink all other creatures is good but, a drawback if you're running other creatures and i dont even want to know what happens if you play a second one. They're 1/1's ? terrible.
Compare that to the red/black demigod and you wonder why this guy is so underpowered. And shriekmawable.
Rhys could be good... his second ability just needs some beefy tokens to work with, like those of Walker of the Grove or something.
And I'm wondering... the multi-color token cards that are going to come in SHA... will they be gold bordered, or hybrid bordered?
Avatar by Grey. Banner by spiderboy4 from High~Light Studios
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
Well, don't forget that +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters are like matter and anti-matter. As soon as they touch each other, they disappear. So only one will be on a card at a time.
Avatar by Grey. Banner by spiderboy4 from High~Light Studios
I think people are a little hard on Rhys. Not Constructed material, but he's a lot more fun than the Rhys in Morningtide.
Godhead of Awe isn't as impressive as the Demigod in some ways, but I think is quite good nonetheless: being able to neutralize so many other creatures with an ongoing effect like that will have a lot of use, and evasion means she'll work as a finisher, of course.
This seems to establish that the purpose of the scarecrows is just to be a whole mess of artifact creatures, not really to be unified in any one mechanical theme (though both of these use -1/-1s in some way.)
The Q symbol is sweet. (We'd better get a more accurate one up into the smilies.) Good call, everyone who suggested they would invert it in order to make it stand out better.
These hybrid cards all seem to fall down in one of the two categories we'd suggested for hybrid design: abilities that fit at least tentatively in both (like the Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers), but much more on the abilities that sort of fit into a mysterious middle area between the colors.
Pretty sure you can untap an untapped creature... but as a cost, the creature MUST be tapped for the untappy cost to be paid.
I like the cards in Shadowmoor so far! The power level seems much slower than Lorwyn and that's the way I like it.
Well, it is 6 mana, and it can be played off of workshop and I doubt it would be the default answer to weenie rush in any deck, because many mana-bases to not reach 7 until very late game and basically, I don't think that is a good comparison.
Banner and avatar by Maxeel at Midnight GFX
yeah...messed up on the CC, and I'm not saying it's a "default answer," but the fact that you can have a 4/4 that can kill off 1-3 creatures for 7 mana doesn't sound that bad.
Wingrattle Scarecrow seems like another part of a cycle
Inkfathom Infiltrator is very cool, no combat damage for him!
Ballyknock Cohort seems like a solid card in limited and maybe constructed
Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers is definitely the best of the lot.
EDIT: Didn't cath the cavaliers was a knight, AWESOME!
My Tamanoa decklist (RGW), infuriating my brother since it's so junky!
First PTQ top 8 6/13/09(1st)
Second PTQ top 8 10/7/09(5th)
Second at national Qualifier 5/15/10
Third PTQ top 8 2/12/11 (2nd)
Second at Alberta 2011's
Fourth PTQ top 8 3/17/12(8th)
GP Vancouver 2012 (18th)
So far, I thinkt he best card is leech bonder, just because of all the -1/-1 counters and persist in the game, being a mermaid (with the tapping and untapping), and you can also steal +1 counters from opponent's creatures.
what if i wanted to move a -1/-1 counter with bonded leech?
What's wrong with coming back from the grave or doublestrike?
It's much more than, say, Scouts or Advisors can say.
They do cancel each other out. The ruling was created with Lorwyn / Shadowmoor ESPECIALLY in mind.
Well, I think other cards, even serrated arrows or bottle gnomes would be better answers because they come online much faster which is clearly important against aggro and gnome gains life. This card could find some use, but it doesn't seem particularly good for t2 at least.
Banner and avatar by Maxeel at Midnight GFX
Is there something we're missing in his article?
"...a talisman against all evil, so long as you obey me."
7cc, 4/4, comes into play with 3 -1/-1 counters, and you may move them from the scarecrow to any creature at no cost.
Because "luck" happens in a thoroughly designed game.
Well, it does, but it's no coincidence Merfolks deal with tapping/untapping. They might even become viable once SM comes out?
Rhys is amusing. a 1/1 elf for 1 mana isnt bad. But its legendary so its a 3 of in most decks. Maybe 4. It does allow some late game potential but lets be frank.... so does Imperious Perfect. She drops at 3, instead of 1, but 1 mana to play those elves.. and they're 2/2's.
Maybe in white, as a 1 drop but even then....
I dont really see him being played in most elf decks. Not even casual.
The Grim Poppet has amazing art, but, it has a fundamental flaw. a 7 cost 1/1 isnt great. Against another control deck, or when your opponent has no creatures, that's all it is. Against a weenie rush deck its too slow without some serious acceleration. He'll see play as a 1 of in big mana decks.... but that's about it.
Love the art thoguh.
The Godhead is everything I hate about magic. 5 colored mana 4/4 flyer is good. But 5 COLORED mana means no artifact colorless, or mutavault, or desert mana.... so sometimes he'll cost more.
The ability to shrink all other creatures is good but, a drawback if you're running other creatures and i dont even want to know what happens if you play a second one. They're 1/1's ? terrible.
Compare that to the red/black demigod and you wonder why this guy is so underpowered. And shriekmawable.
Overall, nothing to see here so far.
mr humility ain't half bad himself
i've gotten an error screen 3 refreshes in a row now.
Official Win
@ateneo10
He's not humility, they keep their abilities, but it still damn good