I approve of these cards. The new mana elf is a welcome sight but i am sure llanowar elves will see the light of day sometime again. I am thinking that they wanted to make diffeent art for llanowar elves but they could not not because of some reasons. So they made a new mana elf which is cool in my book!!
I've been more upset about the decision to print this generic mana-elf over Llanowar Elves than anything else in spoiler season so far. I can't play my Alpha Llanowar Elves in Standard because the flavor team really thinks that is better??!! The 20th anniversary of the game is this year, no less, way to spit on history. There is zero respect for tradition in this core set, and no recognition of the original '93 set. They're just completely ignoring this milestone other than the FTV product.
The issue with plural names is a red herring, they continue to do plural names all the time.
If you are, I fail to see how it is worse than manabarbs. You can now build your manabase around that enchantment and put your opponent at a huge disadvantage.
If you are, I fail to see how it is worse than manabarbs. You can now build your manabase around that enchantment and put your opponent at a huge disadvantage.
It is worse than Manabarbs. Like Barbs, this is not a main deck card. When you sideboard it in, it'll be in mono-red or very fast red-based aggro. You SB it in against slower control, ramp or durdle decks.
So, assuming you're playing a very fast aggro/burn deck (where this could shine).. would you rather have a card that allows your opponent to use his/her mana without losing life (Burning Earth) or an enchantment that can actually LOCK OUT slow decks, although the effect is completely symmetrical (Manabarbs)?
The only situation in which Burning Earth is better than Manabarbs is in mono-red control or R/x Control with Ral Zarek or ramp. Even then it's not strong enough to make the main deck, since it's actively pitifully atrociously terribad against aggro. It's not nearly strong enough to consider changing your manabase either--if I'm a control deck I'd rather just play real control cards and real win conditions. There are better control mirror sideboard cards and better ramp mirror sideboard cards, which makes this only playable in the R/x Aggro/Burn sideboards. And again, it's worse than Manabarbs in that kind of deck. So it's pretty much just worse than Manabarbs.
So, assuming you're playing a very fast aggro/burn deck (where this could shine).. would you rather have a card that allows your opponent to use his/her mana without losing life (Burning Earth) or an enchantment that can actually LOCK OUT slow decks, although the effect is completely symmetrical (Manabarbs)?
You're assuming control decks run basic lands. Here are the number of basic lands in each of the non-two-color-aggro decks (ie, the 'red decks' that will be running this card) that made top 8 of either of this past weekend's Star City Opens:
2
2
0
2
1
2
4
0
0
2
2
And they have no way to search their deck for them, unlike in Legacy where you can fetch your 2-3 basics at will if you see or suspect nonbasic land hate. And even if they get one of their two basic lands, you're still preventing them from using the vast majority of their lands effectively. Good luck ever winning with Drownyard while this is on the board.
As for Doom Blade at uncommon, it is a bit troubling. I just hope that there is still some decent removal at common. Draft formats without enough removal can be aggravating at times.
It is worse than Manabarbs. Like Barbs, this is not a main deck card...
Says YOU, sucka.
Every single deck that I have played against in FNM has run nothing but shocklands and core set duals. There are people playing white/green hybrid lands over basic forests just to be slightly more consistent when casting reckoner.
Son, I am going to main deck 4 of this card in every deck that I play until it rotates. And when it rotates, it's probably going to stay maindeck, and the judge is going to have to walk over, pull it out of the sleeve, and replace it with a basic mountain while someone holds me back.
Every single deck that I have played against in FNM has run nothing but shocklands and core set duals. There are people playing white/green hybrid lands over basic forests just to be slightly more consistent when casting reckoner.
Son, I am going to main deck 4 of this card in every deck that I play until it rotates. And when it rotates, it's probably going to stay maindeck, and the judge is going to have to walk over, pull it out of the sleeve, and replace it with a basic mountain while someone holds me back.
Are you the same guy who played maindeck 4x Surgical Extraction 4x Memoricide at my local store last season? Please come back, I don't get as many free wins anymore! ; )
In all fairness though, as long as you're mono red, I think it's still a sideboard card, but won't be super awful in the main, unless you constantly get paired up against other mono-red opponents. And let's be honest, if there is justice in the universe, you will.
Are you the same guy who played maindeck 4x Surgical Extraction 4x Memoricide at my local store last season? Please come back, I don't get as many free wins anymore! ; )
In all fairness though, as long as you're mono red, I think it's still a sideboard card, but won't be super awful in the main, unless you constantly get paired up against other mono-red opponents. And let's be honest, if there is justice in the universe, you will.
I do recall once playing 2 memoricide maindeck, but there were 3 surgical extractions in the board.
Granted, this was when I cast them every game naming Jace, which was still too slow to beat him.
While I am not against another 1 mana elf that makes mana, why not reprint fyndhorn elves? Is it because those are location specific? Or they want mana producing elves to have a more mystic sounding name?
Probably because "Elves" means there's many elf. And many elf only amount to 1/1 looks weird.
More of a nonbasic Manabarbs then anything.
Club Flamingo Wins: 1!
We're getting Burning Earth instead.
Sig by Rivenor at miraculous recovery and Avatar by Ace5301 at five handed lizard
EDH
Ghave
Phelddagrif
Omnath
Super excited to see Doom Blade.
A comic about the world's most addictive game, Magic: The Gathering.
I've been more upset about the decision to print this generic mana-elf over Llanowar Elves than anything else in spoiler season so far. I can't play my Alpha Llanowar Elves in Standard because the flavor team really thinks that is better??!! The 20th anniversary of the game is this year, no less, way to spit on history. There is zero respect for tradition in this core set, and no recognition of the original '93 set. They're just completely ignoring this milestone other than the FTV product.
The issue with plural names is a red herring, they continue to do plural names all the time.
I'm really close to being done with this game again.
Burning Earth is MUCH better than Manabarbs in standard right now.
Are you talking about Burning Earth?
If you are, I fail to see how it is worse than manabarbs. You can now build your manabase around that enchantment and put your opponent at a huge disadvantage.
U Soramaro, First to Dream U (decklist)
W Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite W (decklist)
Nath of the Gilt-Leaf (decklist)
Glissa, The Traitor (decklist)
Jhoira of the Ghitu
Melek, Izzet Paragon
Borborygmos, Enraged (decklist)
WBG Ghave, Guru of Spores WBG
WRG Uril, the Miststalker WRG (decklist)
It is worse than Manabarbs. Like Barbs, this is not a main deck card. When you sideboard it in, it'll be in mono-red or very fast red-based aggro. You SB it in against slower control, ramp or durdle decks.
So, assuming you're playing a very fast aggro/burn deck (where this could shine).. would you rather have a card that allows your opponent to use his/her mana without losing life (Burning Earth) or an enchantment that can actually LOCK OUT slow decks, although the effect is completely symmetrical (Manabarbs)?
The only situation in which Burning Earth is better than Manabarbs is in mono-red control or R/x Control with Ral Zarek or ramp. Even then it's not strong enough to make the main deck, since it's actively pitifully atrociously terribad against aggro. It's not nearly strong enough to consider changing your manabase either--if I'm a control deck I'd rather just play real control cards and real win conditions. There are better control mirror sideboard cards and better ramp mirror sideboard cards, which makes this only playable in the R/x Aggro/Burn sideboards. And again, it's worse than Manabarbs in that kind of deck. So it's pretty much just worse than Manabarbs.
Even more mysterious, why is an Elven Mystic a Druid?
WBR Kaalia EDH
RG Meet the Warriors Tribal
Developing
UB Szadek EDH
RW Tajic EDH
You're assuming control decks run basic lands. Here are the number of basic lands in each of the non-two-color-aggro decks (ie, the 'red decks' that will be running this card) that made top 8 of either of this past weekend's Star City Opens:
2
2
0
2
1
2
4
0
0
2
2
And they have no way to search their deck for them, unlike in Legacy where you can fetch your 2-3 basics at will if you see or suspect nonbasic land hate. And even if they get one of their two basic lands, you're still preventing them from using the vast majority of their lands effectively. Good luck ever winning with Drownyard while this is on the board.
It seems more like a mono-red or Duo-color EDH Deck card, as nearly every land a Three color or five color deck plays are non-basic.
It's Hip to be a Square
http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/51789115961/doom-blade-at-uncommon-on-twitter-aaron-forsythe-said
Almost all manadorks are druids. Blame Ley Druid.
As for Doom Blade at uncommon, it is a bit troubling. I just hope that there is still some decent removal at common. Draft formats without enough removal can be aggravating at times.
I don't always post about Rafiq of the Many, but when I do, I cardlink to the original artwork, and not the supplementary product version.
"I trust myself to do my duty, even unto death. It's what comes after that I'm afraid of."
"Just fight without fear. Your soul is protected by the hand of Avacyn and will never submit to evil."
Says YOU, sucka.
Every single deck that I have played against in FNM has run nothing but shocklands and core set duals. There are people playing white/green hybrid lands over basic forests just to be slightly more consistent when casting reckoner.
Son, I am going to main deck 4 of this card in every deck that I play until it rotates. And when it rotates, it's probably going to stay maindeck, and the judge is going to have to walk over, pull it out of the sleeve, and replace it with a basic mountain while someone holds me back.
Are you the same guy who played maindeck 4x Surgical Extraction 4x Memoricide at my local store last season? Please come back, I don't get as many free wins anymore! ; )
In all fairness though, as long as you're mono red, I think it's still a sideboard card, but won't be super awful in the main, unless you constantly get paired up against other mono-red opponents. And let's be honest, if there is justice in the universe, you will.
I do recall once playing 2 memoricide maindeck, but there were 3 surgical extractions in the board.
Granted, this was when I cast them every game naming Jace, which was still too slow to beat him.
It was a dark time.
Probably because "Elves" means there's many elf. And many elf only amount to 1/1 looks weird.
My cube
My cube on Cube tutor
I'm OP_Forever. I'll be putting this in my signature for a while so everyone know I change my nickname.
RGGruul Aggro
WSoul Sisters
WBTokens
BUGRRestore Balance
BMono-Black Infect
EDH:
RGWMayael, the Anima
GWURoon of the Hidden Realm
BDrana, Kalastria Bloodchief
This means Celestial Flare is an instant.