You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
Oracle of Bones is a 2RR 5/3 haste with a downside. Is 5 power for 4 mana hasted really even that good in vanilla? I'll grant them its *slightly* above the curve here, but it seems weak
inb4 people claiming Oracle of Bones is nuts. It's decent in standard at best.
It isn't necessarily "good" but it as least fun and/or interesting.
A 5/3 haste for 4 is a very good deal. And I suspect he'll be that a pretty decent amount of the time. Unfortunately, he'll also be a 3/1 haste that does nothing a decent amount of the time.
Decisions make for interesting games though, so +1.
The oracle seems much more threatening in modern, although failing the lighting bolt test probably dooms it there. There just aren't enough high impact instants and sorceress in standard to do much right now.
No, Wizards, that astronomer isn't even close to the level that Kor Spiritdancer is on. NOT. EVEN. CLOSE.
But hey, at least we have our second tribute card(after the xenagos one) that isn't utter garbage!! Wonder why they could only get it right on some of the tribute cards, yet not the others.
I would like to point out that Astromancer is an Uncommon, so it should be expected to be. I will say that being able to dig and choose Auras is an interesting ability, and could prove potent in some build or another.
Oracle of Bones seems pretty sweet in EDH. If the Tribute isn't paid you can play all sorts of crazy things!
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.
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.
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. Come on WotC, this is the type of jank we see come in as a rush of new cards at the end of the season, is there nothing else you could spoil that would have been more exciting for SOMEONE?
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.
I would like to point out that Astromancer is an Uncommon, so it should be expected to be. I will say that being able to dig and choose Auras is an interesting ability, and could prove potent in some build or another.
But the comparison is so lame.
I guess if you want to make a super, super casual deck that probably won't win, then the astronomer could be fun(winning isn't everything, I know). But even then there are just better options. The issue with it and most isnpired cards is that you have to put all of this extra effort into them to get effects that really are just not worth all of the effort. The astronomer just requires so many resources to use that effect, which just makes it seem pointless to dedicate that much to it. At least with heroic cards like Fabled Hero, you can get a hell of a lot of mileage out of its heroic ability.
The astronomer just feels like a "do nothing" card.
I'm pretty disappointed in the bestow cycle. Hopefully they will be an uncommon cycle as well that's a little more interesting (aside from the archetypes).
Gold token eh? Weird. Reminds me of when Richard wanted to do city land tokens or whatever in original Rav
I wish we had some legitimate sand tokens..not a big deal orbviously, just sayin.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
The true mind can weather all the lies and illusions without being lost. The true heart can tough the poison of hatred without being harmed. Since beginning-less time, darkness thrives in the void but always yields to purifying light.
I invision a future where one is not mighty when he can silence a crowd with brutality,
but when he leaves them speechless with wisdom.
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.
Ah theres a good comparison. I forgot that card exists. Like most of dragons maze. Heck, he would have worked better if he had the same mana cost as Exava, given the BR-less-mana-cost minotaur tribal already spoiled.
Considering this minotaur lacks evasion, 3 toughness is a real problem, haste or not. Its not like the format is about swinging into a JTMS to instakill him as a legacy panther found relevant. Theres no real shortage of 3 power creatures to trade with him. Heck, he flat out dies to brimaz
The minotaur looks cool. In the art. The card is not something people will remember years from now. It'll be a 25 cent rare in the end. Tribute is just not great. Although every time I see a card with the keyword in it, I think of that one episode of "It's Always Sunny..." Then I laugh a little to myself.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Thanks to Rivenor for the signature and XenoNinja for the Avi!
Quotes:
WWUGeist of Saint TraftUWW
UUBBLazav, Dimir MastermindBBUU
BRMalfegorRB
RGThromok the InsatiableGR
GGWWTrostani, Selesnya's VoiceWWGG
WBTeysa, Orzhov ScionBW
BGGGlissa, the TraitorGGB
GGUUPrime Speaker ZeganaUUGG
URJhoira of the GhituRU
RRWWAurelia, the WarleaderWWRR
UBRJeleva, Nephalias ScourgeRBU
"OH GOD MY BRAIN IS EXPLOADING AT HOW BAD THE ART IS ON MY OWN CARD"
-A friend's first impression of Ancestral Recall
10/10, I tapped.
The effect could use some work.
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||
The Gold token is the most exciting thing I saw today, and one of the top 3 things so far spoiled in this set. Says a lot about this set.
Owner of IcyGeek.com
It isn't necessarily "good" but it as least fun and/or interesting.
A 5/3 haste for 4 is a very good deal. And I suspect he'll be that a pretty decent amount of the time. Unfortunately, he'll also be a 3/1 haste that does nothing a decent amount of the time.
Decisions make for interesting games though, so +1.
++ value with Raised by Wolf.
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.
Meletis Astronomer looks like a really fun build around me card, wonder where it'll see play, if at all.
Bwah? This card is certainly Red. Blue can cast spells for free too but that ability is well within Red's slice of the pie.
I would like to point out that Astromancer is an Uncommon, so it should be expected to be. I will say that being able to dig and choose Auras is an interesting ability, and could prove potent in some build or another.
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.
GUB [Retired Primer] The Mimeoplasm BUG
Modern: UR Storm RU
Cube: WUBRG Pauper Cube GRBUW
Credit for the banner goes to DarkNightCavalier at Heroes of the Plane Studios
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. Come on WotC, this is the type of jank we see come in as a rush of new cards at the end of the season, is there nothing else you could spoil that would have been more exciting for SOMEONE?
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.
I can just see it now.
"Oracle of Bones. Pay Tribute?"
"Pssh, no. I'm not taking 5 damage."
"Alright, free cast Hunter's Prowess, swing for 6, draw 6 cards."
Gets even better with Xenagos.
Or maybe there will be silly Enter the Infinite shenanigans. Either way, I really love that card.
But the comparison is so lame.
I guess if you want to make a super, super casual deck that probably won't win, then the astronomer could be fun(winning isn't everything, I know). But even then there are just better options. The issue with it and most isnpired cards is that you have to put all of this extra effort into them to get effects that really are just not worth all of the effort. The astronomer just requires so many resources to use that effect, which just makes it seem pointless to dedicate that much to it. At least with heroic cards like Fabled Hero, you can get a hell of a lot of mileage out of its heroic ability.
The astronomer just feels like a "do nothing" card.
Spiritdancer is a rare designed for constructed. This is an uncommon, designed for limited. The two cards have very different goals.
I wish we had some legitimate sand tokens..not a big deal orbviously, just sayin.
I invision a future where one is not mighty when he can silence a crowd with brutality,
but when he leaves them speechless with wisdom.
Ah theres a good comparison. I forgot that card exists. Like most of dragons maze. Heck, he would have worked better if he had the same mana cost as Exava, given the BR-less-mana-cost minotaur tribal already spoiled.
Considering this minotaur lacks evasion, 3 toughness is a real problem, haste or not. Its not like the format is about swinging into a JTMS to instakill him as a legacy panther found relevant. Theres no real shortage of 3 power creatures to trade with him. Heck, he flat out dies to brimaz