I really don't know how people still don't get the whole champion idea, it's already been explained.
It is not some kind of "level up", "upgrade", or "evolution" of your current creature.
To Champion means to take the place of another, usually concerned in a duel or fight. Basically what happens in this case is the current creature, lets say Mr. Llanowar, realizes he is no match for the fierce beasties on the other side of the battlefield, so he calls in our friend the packmaster to fight in his stead.
Mr. Pack basically takes the place of our mana slinging buddy in combat, who resolutely stays out of the combat (imagine him hiding behind the warrior and his wolves) as long as his champion is still around. The Champion is basically defending the other creature, and his enemies must dispose of him before they can get to the guy he's protecting.
There has never been a deck of Pandemonium + 3 Faceless Devourer, but with this packmaster, such deck should be possible: Play Llany, some time later drop the Packmaster, remove Llany, next turn play Packmaster, remove packmaster and bring back llany, next turn play another Packmaster, remove Packmaster, bring back Packmaster, etc.
Pandemonium is so the best Time Spiral casual card EVER!
This definetely makes up for my disappointment in MED. If any of these cards even remotely represent the 'fun level' of their respective rarities, this sets going to be a hootnanny! (Might even be fun to play casually also
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"Dark Ritual, Hypnotic Specter, Hymn to Tourach. If there is an unholy trio in Magic, this is it. These three cards have been wreaking havoc and crushing dreams for over a decade. They're like the New York Yankees, except powered by black magic. Oh, wait... never mind." Chris Millar House of Cards
In an elf deck, a second turn wood elves leads into a third turn 5/5 that casts Deathgazers without losing a card from your hand, and you've still got 2 mana open to do stuff with, and if he gets killed you get to keep the 2/2s he made, you get your 1/1 back, and you get another forest from your library into play. What fun!
yeah if tribal is good tarmogoyf will get more ridiculous. unfortunately for me, i bought 24 of them before the set came out for 99c a playset, then subsequently sold them for 60$ a set.
Oh yeah? I pay about $2.50 per pack of cards when I buy in bulk. I opened several playsets of Tarmogoyfs and sold them off at $1.50 a card. Now they're $20. Aha! You aint got nothing on me!
Okay, so, once again the art and the frames feels like a missmatch. The newer frames worked really well for Mirroden, Time Spiral, and Ravnica, but for more 'traditional fantasy'-esq blocks like Lorwyn and Kamigawa they are REALLY lacking.
that said, the art is great. Also it looks like Tribal has FINALLY moved away from the horrible 'Play as many elves as you can and then gain a kajillion life/deal a Kajillion damage' gimmic to something that makes more sense. We're seeing cards that support a tribe but dont require a tribe to be good.
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Cyme we inne frið, fram the grip of deaþ to lif inne ðis smylte land.
I like the black ball of slime, the championing thing sounds silly, and that kithkin has bird legs. Fun for everyone!
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With all, put the same thing except with / in front of what type of tags they are (like [/card]) to close them.
Card: [card]
Hybrid: :symub: = order doesn't matter
Hey! Been lurking in the shadows a while and finally got around to registering. That wizard demanded it. It also demanded a sig and a spot in blink decks. Need to get 4. As for the other cards, the elf definitely seems playable, the enchantment's no good in constructed with things like stonewood around (did Mythic Proportions ever see play?). The new goblin grenade's great, I hope there are other good goblins to put it to use, and the merfolk doesn't interest me much, but I'm sure someone will find a good use for it.
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Time to bring back a 5-year old sig banner. DEDICATION!
Wrens Run Packmaster (Prerelease giveaway)
3:symg:
Creature- Elf Warrior
5/5
(Rare)
Champion an elf (when this comes into play, sacrifice it unless you remove another elf you control from the game. When this leaves play, return that card to play.)
2:symg:: Put a 2/2 green wolf creature token into play
Each wolf you control has deathtouch.
I can't began to express how excited I am over this card. This is mainly because it speaks to my johnny, timmy, and spike all at once. I saw this a decided immediately that I would have to build an elf deck. The idea feels so strong that I can't wait for some more.
What I also like about the Champion mechanic is that thanks to the tribal type providing creature subtypes, there is design space for elf enchantments. It is possible that they will go for a synergy with the champion mechanic by giving us an abusable elf enchantment. Always possible. Although they may not flood us with that too soon.
I just like that they are giving us options with the tribal type having synergy with their respective champions.
Overall the Packmaster is a strong card allowing green to put pressure on the control player without overcommiting to the board (I'm looking at Wrath and Damnation). It allows the green player to attack and defend at the same time amassing an army. And as has been mentioned if used in conjunction with the sentinal from 10th then you can instantly replace your army.
My main point is that a green elf deck will have a strong match up against blue control with this guy leading.
Packmaster looks nice, but the whole Champion mechanic is going to be abused against like the Nightmare Horror mechanic it draws parallels to. If you kill the creature before it Champions something, then the leaves play trigger will go onto the stack before the comes into play trigger has resolved, trying to return no creature, and then the CIP trigger resolves, removing your creature forever.
Packmaster looks nice, but the whole Champion mechanic is going to be abused against like the Nightmare Horror mechanic it draws parallels to. If you kill the creature before it Champions something, then the leaves play trigger will go onto the stack before the comes into play trigger has resolved, trying to return no creature, and then the CIP trigger resolves, removing your creature forever.
This opens up a lot of 2-for-1s.
Champion an elf (when this comes into play, sacrifice it unless you remove another elf you control from the game. When this leaves play, return that card to play.)
Read it carefully. You don't have to remove another creature if you choose not to.
Champion an elf (when this comes into play, sacrifice it unless you remove another elf you control from the game. When this leaves play, return that card to play.)
Read it carefully. You don't have to remove another creature if you choose not to.
The 2 for 1 scenario people are talking about:
You have Llanowar Elves in play.
You play Wren's Run Packmaster.
While the creature spell is on the stack, I Terror your Llanowar Elves.
Wren's Run Packmaster resolves, and the trigger goes on the stack.
The trigger resolves, and I sacrifice it because I don't control another elf that I can remove from the game.
Sadly that still sets up a 2-for-1 by killing your other elf.
no it doesn't.
if the packmaster dies you get the other elf back.
anyway...while i hate the name, that ability is cool.
and this truly opens the way to elf/wolf deck (man...ravnica...watchwolf...tolsimir...too bad these two are gone from T2...)
you can also tap a llaowar elf for the mana, then championing the llaowar elf himself.
Well, the prerelease card is a beast, no question. Right now, apart from Llanowar elves, there are not many valid, maindeck worthy, targets for it to champion, but undoubtedly Lorwyn will add several fine choices. The thing I don't get, is how on earth is that elf a 5/5? The wolves around him are 2/2 right?
The boggart grenade and the Kithin mage will see some play. Personally, I don't like how they pushed goblins into black, but doesn't matter that much I guess.
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Banner and avatar by the one and only Craven at Epic graphics. Check them out.
Sorry if this is a bad place to post this, but my friend said me something about planeswalkers or legendary creatures in Lorwyn (he said "special" creature):
Planeswalker or Legendary creature will put creature token (2/2 or 3/3) into play for cheap cost (maybe for tap or one mana and tap), I think this can be fake (too powerful) , but he is usually serious. I ask him for something else but he don't answer yet. He is from French developer.
Now i know, "special creature" means promo, not planeswalker (because planeswalker is not a creature) or legend.
Creature is really cheap (5/5 for 3G), and it's really put 2/2 token into play with nice ability.
Thanks Ravensect.
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By John Avon
Decks:
EDH: :symbw::symuw::symub:Merieke Ri Berit:symbw::symuw::symub:
Archenemy EDH: Reaper king
That elf is pretty viscious and dangerous, but I think I can't play it, too hard for me you know. I knew when I saw that art of the Kitkin, I knew it was flying, defenitly, but still on what is it flying? I dont know how to use this Merfolk. Are there enchantments or equipments that say tap enchanted creature draw a card? That would be nice, since you can draw two than, each turn. Little Arcanis.
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hey i have managed to evolve my axolotls by feeding them thyroid glands the thyroxine contained in these gland is enough to change these water dwelling creatures into land based creatures
Posted by: Tay Collins | January 20, 2010 6:45 AM
Tay, that's not evolution. It's metamorphosis. Evolution means descent with heritable modification – individuals cannot evolve, unless they're Pokemon.
Posted by: David Marjanović | January 20, 2010 8:55 AM
Finally! I'm probably bigger than that guy, and I doubt I could even have Little Girl in a fight.
He is a packmaster, so 5/5 is himself plus some of his Wolves. He can send some to the fray alone, but he is always with company (I'm guessing he's a 1/1 and there's always two wolves with him).
What he means: If you have only one Elf, they can shock it in response and you lose the packmaster too. Thus, 2 for 1
But if you manage to remove a Caller of the Claw with it, you will have an asskickin' anti wrath elf in play
Edit: too bad it won't work on the tokens you've created.
What I'm curious about is: How many champion creature will we get?
I'd do anything for Champion an Angel, it would be bigger and would contain more awesomeness than Akroma.
Actually I searched it in a dictionary and champion isn't that bad.
The verb means:
to act as champion of; defend; support: to champion a cause.
Champion an elf would mean: Support an elf, defend an elf.
Some pretty awesome cards here, but as usual, I'm in love with the white goodie. Maybe there's a rule that every tribal deck should have an amazing white "blink" card?
The pre-release elf is the nuts, though. Puts Mobilization to shame.
What I'm curious about is: How many champion creature will we get?
I'd do anything for Champion an Angel, it would be bigger and would contain more awesomeness than Akroma.
It's possible that they will use the mechanic across creature subtypes. For example, there might be an angel that champions a kithkin.
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It is not some kind of "level up", "upgrade", or "evolution" of your current creature.
To Champion means to take the place of another, usually concerned in a duel or fight. Basically what happens in this case is the current creature, lets say Mr. Llanowar, realizes he is no match for the fierce beasties on the other side of the battlefield, so he calls in our friend the packmaster to fight in his stead.
Mr. Pack basically takes the place of our mana slinging buddy in combat, who resolutely stays out of the combat (imagine him hiding behind the warrior and his wolves) as long as his champion is still around. The Champion is basically defending the other creature, and his enemies must dispose of him before they can get to the guy he's protecting.
There has never been a deck of Pandemonium + 3 Faceless Devourer, but with this packmaster, such deck should be possible: Play Llany, some time later drop the Packmaster, remove Llany, next turn play Packmaster, remove packmaster and bring back llany, next turn play another Packmaster, remove Packmaster, bring back Packmaster, etc.
Pandemonium is so the best Time Spiral casual card EVER!
back to limited when you draft only one creature type
BTW: Goblin grenade removal thing is amazing in limited. heres to goblins being really amazing to draft
wrens packrunner is also amazing. My opponent never attacks again as long as i have mana untapped, and i swing for 5 every turn seems good, no?
"Dark Ritual, Hypnotic Specter, Hymn to Tourach. If there is an unholy trio in Magic, this is it. These three cards have been wreaking havoc and crushing dreams for over a decade. They're like the New York Yankees, except powered by black magic. Oh, wait... never mind."
Chris Millar
House of Cards
The elf is too spikey for me to be happy about.
In an elf deck, a second turn wood elves leads into a third turn 5/5 that casts Deathgazers without losing a card from your hand, and you've still got 2 mana open to do stuff with, and if he gets killed you get to keep the 2/2s he made, you get your 1/1 back, and you get another forest from your library into play. What fun!
Maybe that's why they made a lot of goblin spells black in LOR. Then they don't easily go into most of the overpowered Legacy goblin decks.
Oh yeah? I pay about $2.50 per pack of cards when I buy in bulk. I opened several playsets of Tarmogoyfs and sold them off at $1.50 a card. Now they're $20. Aha! You aint got nothing on me!
That's okay, about 30% of my customers are too.
.
that said, the art is great. Also it looks like Tribal has FINALLY moved away from the horrible 'Play as many elves as you can and then gain a kajillion life/deal a Kajillion damage' gimmic to something that makes more sense. We're seeing cards that support a tribe but dont require a tribe to be good.
Card: [card]
Hybrid: :symub: = order doesn't matter
Spoiler: [spoiler]
Deck: [deck]
Time to bring back a 5-year old sig banner. DEDICATION!
Currently Playing:
=Legacy=
RUUG Delver
=Modern=
BRRG LOAM
=EDH=
BGGR Karrthus
RRRX Norin
UUWW Bruna
BBBB Skithiryx
I really like the cards though, especially the Elf. Especially the Elf.
Very Well Then I Contradict Myself.
3:symg:
Creature- Elf Warrior
5/5
(Rare)
Champion an elf (when this comes into play, sacrifice it unless you remove another elf you control from the game. When this leaves play, return that card to play.)
2:symg:: Put a 2/2 green wolf creature token into play
Each wolf you control has deathtouch.
I can't began to express how excited I am over this card. This is mainly because it speaks to my johnny, timmy, and spike all at once. I saw this a decided immediately that I would have to build an elf deck. The idea feels so strong that I can't wait for some more.
What I also like about the Champion mechanic is that thanks to the tribal type providing creature subtypes, there is design space for elf enchantments. It is possible that they will go for a synergy with the champion mechanic by giving us an abusable elf enchantment. Always possible. Although they may not flood us with that too soon.
I just like that they are giving us options with the tribal type having synergy with their respective champions.
Overall the Packmaster is a strong card allowing green to put pressure on the control player without overcommiting to the board (I'm looking at Wrath and Damnation). It allows the green player to attack and defend at the same time amassing an army. And as has been mentioned if used in conjunction with the sentinal from 10th then you can instantly replace your army.
My main point is that a green elf deck will have a strong match up against blue control with this guy leading.
This opens up a lot of 2-for-1s.
Read it carefully. You don't have to remove another creature if you choose not to.
The 2 for 1 scenario people are talking about:
You have Llanowar Elves in play.
You play Wren's Run Packmaster.
While the creature spell is on the stack, I Terror your Llanowar Elves.
Wren's Run Packmaster resolves, and the trigger goes on the stack.
The trigger resolves, and I sacrifice it because I don't control another elf that I can remove from the game.
2 for 1.
no it doesn't.
if the packmaster dies you get the other elf back.
anyway...while i hate the name, that ability is cool.
and this truly opens the way to elf/wolf deck (man...ravnica...watchwolf...tolsimir...too bad these two are gone from T2...)
you can also tap a llaowar elf for the mana, then championing the llaowar elf himself.
The boggart grenade and the Kithin mage will see some play. Personally, I don't like how they pushed goblins into black, but doesn't matter that much I guess.
Banner and avatar by the one and only Craven at Epic graphics. Check them out.
Offical High Priest of Reign of Blood
Now i know, "special creature" means promo, not planeswalker (because planeswalker is not a creature) or legend.
Creature is really cheap (5/5 for 3G), and it's really put 2/2 token into play with nice ability.
Thanks Ravensect.
Decks:
EDH: :symbw::symuw::symub:Merieke Ri Berit:symbw::symuw::symub:
Archenemy EDH: Reaper king
(")(")
GONZO
Genius, fast, and long eared.
Finally, the first cards. Whoo!!
That elf is pretty viscious and dangerous, but I think I can't play it, too hard for me you know. I knew when I saw that art of the Kitkin, I knew it was flying, defenitly, but still on what is it flying? I dont know how to use this Merfolk. Are there enchantments or equipments that say tap enchanted creature draw a card? That would be nice, since you can draw two than, each turn. Little Arcanis.
Posted by: Tay Collins | January 20, 2010 6:45 AM
Tay, that's not evolution. It's metamorphosis. Evolution means descent with heritable modification – individuals cannot evolve, unless they're Pokemon.
Posted by: David Marjanović | January 20, 2010 8:55 AM
He is a packmaster, so 5/5 is himself plus some of his Wolves. He can send some to the fray alone, but he is always with company (I'm guessing he's a 1/1 and there's always two wolves with him).
The flavor of this card is simply outstanding
But if you manage to remove a Caller of the Claw with it, you will have an asskickin' anti wrath elf in play
Edit: too bad it won't work on the tokens you've created.
What I'm curious about is: How many champion creature will we get?
I'd do anything for Champion an Angel, it would be bigger and would contain more awesomeness than Akroma.
Actually I searched it in a dictionary and champion isn't that bad.
The verb means:
to act as champion of; defend; support: to champion a cause.
Champion an elf would mean: Support an elf, defend an elf.
I don't think size = power in magic...at least, it doesn't have to be.
I like the Kithkin dude...I love combos with 187 and morph critters.
The pre-release elf is the nuts, though. Puts Mobilization to shame.
Loads of thanks!
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It's possible that they will use the mechanic across creature subtypes. For example, there might be an angel that champions a kithkin.