All right, so Return to Ravnica is just around the corner. Which means it's time for me to post the thread for general spoiler discussion (because I've been taking it upon myself to do so since AVR).
Keep in mind: If a card isn't on the official MTGS Spoiler page but is thought to be in the set, it's considered a rumor and must stay in the Rumor Mill.
This thread is for general discussion. So if you want to discuss a card in a specific archetype, please refer to the official thread for that archetype. Otherwise, if you don't know where a card would go, if it would possibly go in multiple archetypes (meaning a general staple, such as Kitchen Finks), or the archetype that it would be for doesn't exist yet, feel free to talk about it here.
Both cards we've seen so far are probably unplayable.
Really? Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord seems like he could be pretty awesome. A 4cmc dude that can get big and can also shoot direct damage at opponents is pretty nice.
If not playable in a regular deck that runs G/B, maybe a 1-of in black pod lists?
Really? Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord seems like he could be pretty awesome. A 4cmc dude that can get big and can also shoot direct damage at opponents is pretty nice.
If not playable in a regular deck that runs G/B, maybe a 1-of in black pod lists?
Orrr those rock loam decks that like killing lands... and dredgeing, and seem to have some kinda engine that keeps those lands looping?
The way this deck works is that it tries to assemble Wall of Blood-Disciple of Bolas. Pump Wall as much as you like when you're about to sac it to Disciple, then sac it to Disciple, gain all the invested life back, and draw a lot of cards. I generally prefer to refill my hand with the combo; drawing back to 7 cards in hand (8 if I haven't made my land drop yet) will do.
Wall of Blood is surprisingly useful outside the combo; it's one murderous wall as long as you're willing to pay the life. Yes, I'm willing to pay the 2 life to make it kill Bloodbraid Elf and survive--I'd rather not take 3 damage and let BBE live.
Disciple of Bolas isn't very useful outside the combo, but Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker is a 5-mana semi-Clone with an awful mana cost that is a huge removal magnet. I tried to give Disciple more happy stuff to sac (Finks, Thragtusk, Reveillark, etc.), but I'm not sure how well it will work.
Jarad was the missing piece. I refuse to splash red for Brion Stoutarm (the only other Modern-legal creature that does something like Jarad does), and Brion doesn't work when he's summoning sick. Late-game, as long as you have more life than your opponent, pump Wall of Blood again, then make Jarad throw it at your opponent for game. Jarad also likes throwing other creatures for game, he's often huge, and he's one recursive dick. I've generally been able to recur him once or twice per game with his own ability if I need to.
Because I want to have a higher life total than my opponent for the Jarad trick to work, the deck has a huge life gain sub-theme. Finks, Obstinate Baloth, and Thragtusk should all do lots of work here. I've tried to make the mana base not so suicidal, but I wish there was an enemy-coloured version of the Razorverge Thicket cycle.
Unfortunately, this deck is very vulnerable to well-timed spot removal (after throwing your life at Wall of Blood and before the triggers resolve, getting it or Jarad Terminated is the last thing you want to see, and if you pump Wall then get Disciple or Jarad, you're vulnerable to Terminate again--heck, you're forced to combo off out of Bolt range against red decks, but at least the combo pieces don't die to Bolt), so Spellskite maindeck is mandatory.
I splashed white for Reveillark, better hate bears, and the Wall of Blood-pumping Gavony Township. Reveillark is so, so good in this deck. It conveniently recurs both Wall of Blood and Disciple or Wall and Jarad (or even Disciple and Jarad) at the same time. Disciple loves saccing it. It flies. The Eternal Witness loop with it is scary good. I love it.
I'm not sure how much better or worse this deck is than Melira Pod, Twin Pod, or my Zombie Pod brew, but it's fun as heck.
I'd love to see your Pod deck, The Dead Weatherman. I've brewed lots of Melira Pod and Twin Pod decks, though I like the more traditional ones with stable mana bases the best.
As someone pointed out in the Rumor Mill (have to check who, I will give you credit ), if they print a creature with an triggered ETB populate ability, Cackling Counterpart gives a 2 card Splinter Twin-esque infinite combo. If its white, a UW control list could come out with this combo as the main win. (and you wont even need full playsets of each of the cards, especially since CC has flashback). It'll even be standard playable (Yea neo-Exarch/Twin!)
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Thanks to Rivenor for the signature and XenoNinja for the Avi!
Really? Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord seems like he could be pretty awesome. A 4cmc dude that can get big and can also shoot direct damage at opponents is pretty nice.
If not playable in a regular deck that runs G/B, maybe a 1-of in black pod lists?
He seems too conditional in a regular deck, but actually, I could totally see him in a Pod-type deck. Problem is that the combo Pod decks don't want him, and running just a midrangey Pod deck seems inferior to a combo one. But perhaps I was too fast to dismiss him.
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When you peer long enough through the depths, the depths peer also through you.
As someone pointed out in the Rumor Mill (have to check who, I will give you credit ), if they print a creature with an triggered ETB populate ability, Cackling Counterpart gives a 2 card Splinter Twin-esque infinite combo. If its white, a UW control list could come out with this combo as the main win. (and you wont even need full playsets of each of the cards, especially since CC has flashback). It'll even be standard playable (Yea neo-Exarch/Twin!)
That it would be Standard-playable is dangerous, and may be a reason why Wizards would not create a non-Legendary creature with Populate.
Actually, if the Populate were mandatory and on a non-Legendary creature, wouldn't there be a forced infinite loop and wouldn't the game end in a draw?
Actually, if the Populate were mandatory and on a non-Legendary creature, wouldn't there be a forced infinite loop and wouldn't the game end in a draw?
Not if you control another token.
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When you peer long enough through the depths, the depths peer also through you.
That it would be Standard-playable is dangerous, and may be a reason why Wizards would not create a non-Legendary creature with Populate.
Actually, if the Populate were mandatory and on a non-Legendary creature, wouldn't there be a forced infinite loop and wouldn't the game end in a draw?
Only if the ability of the creature either:
Populates upon entering the battlefield,
or
Triggers populate when another creature enters.
What is more likely is a creature that taps for populate (which would make Intruder Alarm that much more awesome.)
As someone pointed out in the Rumor Mill (have to check who, I will give you credit ), if they print a creature with an triggered ETB populate ability, Cackling Counterpart gives a 2 card Splinter Twin-esque infinite combo. If its white, a UW control list could come out with this combo as the main win. (and you wont even need full playsets of each of the cards, especially since CC has flashback). It'll even be standard playable (Yea neo-Exarch/Twin!)
Unless its legendary right?
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Out of the blackness and stench of the engulfing swamp emerged a shimmering figure. Only the splattered armor and ichor-stained sword hinted at the unfathomable evil the knight had just laid waste.
Question about Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord, would you be able to simply sac 1 Overgrown Tomb to retrieve him or would you have to sac an additional Forest/Swamp?
You can't sacrifice just an Overgrown Tomb to pay for that ability any more than you can tap just an Overgrown Tomb to cast Putrid Leech.
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When you peer long enough through the depths, the depths peer also through you.
I like. Since I'm also covering a bit about RTR in next article attempt, I'm gonna use this as an example deck for how Modern is still wide open with "huge tracts of unexplored land"...
Well put.
He seems too slow, though. His abilities are pretty expensive, and his static effect for p/t isn't nearly as efficient, let alone as powerful, as tarmogoyf's. He looks like fun though.
Pitted Disciple of the Wall Pod against heavily controlling decks. Because they tend to be on tenterhooks pretty often, I was surprised how resilient the Wall of Blood-Jarad combo was to creature removal.
Life totals: 10-3
Crack Reveillark to Birthing Pod, recur Wall of Blood and Jarad.
Pay 3 life to Wall of Blood.
In response, PtE Jarad.
Pay another 3 life to Wall.
In response, Cryptic Command, bouncing Jarad and drawing.
Pay another 3 life to Wall.
(3 Wall triggers resolve.)
In response to Cryptic Command, pitch Wall to Jarad. GG in my favour.
Of course, life doesn't always work this way, and I have gotten my butt handed to me on a platter when the combo fails before.
Jarad's been much better than Brion Stoutarm in the deck--no nasty RW splash, works when summoning sick, comes back from the dead pretty often, and is enormous late-game (I think I've gotten a 17/17 Jarad once)! Shame he bites it to exile and library stuffing very hard, just like Wurmcoil Engine.
He's also unfortunately best in Pod decks, as those decks not only play loads of creatures that often die, it has a convenient way to boost Jarad against all decks in Birthing Pod.
He reminds me of doran. You can always fling him for the win with Rite of consumption. Also I like the fact that he has synergy with all the good Golgari themes. Dredge a bit. Play a few cheap critters that try and control the board and then when you have your opponent on the ropes bust this big guy.
Certainly has room for abuse. Well see what we can do with him.
I like the way you can drop him with a few guys and use his ability to deal damage and make him bigger.
WWGGTrostany, Conclave's Heart
Legendary Creature - Dryad (m)
Whenever you cast a spell, populate
Creature tokens you control are indestructible WG,t: Put two 1/1 green Saproling creature tokens onto the battlefield
3/6
221/274 (Index number)
WWGGTrostany, Conclave's Heart
Legendary Creature - Dryad (m)
Whenever you cast a spell, populate
Creature tokens you control are indestructible WG,t: Put two 1/1 green Saproling creature tokens onto the battlefield
3/6
221/274 (Index number)
Keep in mind: If a card isn't on the official MTGS Spoiler page but is thought to be in the set, it's considered a rumor and must stay in the Rumor Mill.
This thread is for general discussion. So if you want to discuss a card in a specific archetype, please refer to the official thread for that archetype. Otherwise, if you don't know where a card would go, if it would possibly go in multiple archetypes (meaning a general staple, such as Kitchen Finks), or the archetype that it would be for doesn't exist yet, feel free to talk about it here.
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEADYYYYYY..
.. GO!!!
I guess Rootborn Defenses could be neat, but it seems way too fringe.
Really? Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord seems like he could be pretty awesome. A 4cmc dude that can get big and can also shoot direct damage at opponents is pretty nice.
If not playable in a regular deck that runs G/B, maybe a 1-of in black pod lists?
Orrr those rock loam decks that like killing lands... and dredgeing, and seem to have some kinda engine that keeps those lands looping?
Just saying...
On the other hand, I was brewing a Wall of Blood-Disciple of Bolas Pod deck recently and Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord seems like the missing piece for it:
1 Horizon Canopy
1 Gavony Township
1 Woodland Cemetery
4 Verdant Catacombs
3 Marsh Flats
1 Misty Rainforest
2 Overgrown Tomb
2 Temple Garden
1 Godless Shrine
3 Forest
2 Swamp
1 Plains
Creatures
4 Birds of Paradise
2 Noble Hierarch
3 Wall of Roots
4 Wall of Blood
4 Disciple of Bolas
2 Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
1 Eternal Witness
1 Reveillark
3 Kitchen Finks
1 Obstinate Baloth
1 Thragtusk
1 Qasali Pridemage
1 Spellskite
4 Birthing Pod
3 Chord of Calling
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Obstinate Baloth
1 Fulminator Mage
1 Harmonic Sliver
1 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
1 Orzhov Pontiff
1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
1 Shriekmaw
1 Skinrender
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Withered Wretch
1 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Maelstrom Pulse
The way this deck works is that it tries to assemble Wall of Blood-Disciple of Bolas. Pump Wall as much as you like when you're about to sac it to Disciple, then sac it to Disciple, gain all the invested life back, and draw a lot of cards. I generally prefer to refill my hand with the combo; drawing back to 7 cards in hand (8 if I haven't made my land drop yet) will do.
Wall of Blood is surprisingly useful outside the combo; it's one murderous wall as long as you're willing to pay the life. Yes, I'm willing to pay the 2 life to make it kill Bloodbraid Elf and survive--I'd rather not take 3 damage and let BBE live.
Disciple of Bolas isn't very useful outside the combo, but Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker is a 5-mana semi-Clone with an awful mana cost that is a huge removal magnet. I tried to give Disciple more happy stuff to sac (Finks, Thragtusk, Reveillark, etc.), but I'm not sure how well it will work.
Jarad was the missing piece. I refuse to splash red for Brion Stoutarm (the only other Modern-legal creature that does something like Jarad does), and Brion doesn't work when he's summoning sick. Late-game, as long as you have more life than your opponent, pump Wall of Blood again, then make Jarad throw it at your opponent for game. Jarad also likes throwing other creatures for game, he's often huge, and he's one recursive dick. I've generally been able to recur him once or twice per game with his own ability if I need to.
Because I want to have a higher life total than my opponent for the Jarad trick to work, the deck has a huge life gain sub-theme. Finks, Obstinate Baloth, and Thragtusk should all do lots of work here. I've tried to make the mana base not so suicidal, but I wish there was an enemy-coloured version of the Razorverge Thicket cycle.
Unfortunately, this deck is very vulnerable to well-timed spot removal (after throwing your life at Wall of Blood and before the triggers resolve, getting it or Jarad Terminated is the last thing you want to see, and if you pump Wall then get Disciple or Jarad, you're vulnerable to Terminate again--heck, you're forced to combo off out of Bolt range against red decks, but at least the combo pieces don't die to Bolt), so Spellskite maindeck is mandatory.
I splashed white for Reveillark, better hate bears, and the Wall of Blood-pumping Gavony Township. Reveillark is so, so good in this deck. It conveniently recurs both Wall of Blood and Disciple or Wall and Jarad (or even Disciple and Jarad) at the same time. Disciple loves saccing it. It flies. The Eternal Witness loop with it is scary good. I love it.
I'm not sure how much better or worse this deck is than Melira Pod, Twin Pod, or my Zombie Pod brew, but it's fun as heck.
You're very into Pod decks, are you? Mind if I PM you an idea for a Pod deck I had?
FREE BLOODBRAID ELF
Thanks to Rivenor for the signature and XenoNinja for the Avi!
Quotes:
That it would be Standard-playable is dangerous, and may be a reason why Wizards would not create a non-Legendary creature with Populate.
Actually, if the Populate were mandatory and on a non-Legendary creature, wouldn't there be a forced infinite loop and wouldn't the game end in a draw?
Only if the ability of the creature either:
Populates upon entering the battlefield,
or
Triggers populate when another creature enters.
What is more likely is a creature that taps for populate (which would make Intruder Alarm that much more awesome.)
Modern: Twin URW Wilted Abzan WBG
Legacy: Stax WWW Maverick WBG
Cockatrice ID: Voltigasm
Unless its legendary right?
Well put.
He seems too slow, though. His abilities are pretty expensive, and his static effect for p/t isn't nearly as efficient, let alone as powerful, as tarmogoyf's. He looks like fun though.
Modern Junk Primer
Legacy ANT Primer
L1 Judge
It is a little too easy to abuse. Splinter twin, kiki, also can crack it open.
(Creature with populate. Kiki/twin makes copy, copy enters, triggers, itself, continue.
Life totals: 10-3
Crack Reveillark to Birthing Pod, recur Wall of Blood and Jarad.
Pay 3 life to Wall of Blood.
In response, PtE Jarad.
Pay another 3 life to Wall.
In response, Cryptic Command, bouncing Jarad and drawing.
Pay another 3 life to Wall.
(3 Wall triggers resolve.)
In response to Cryptic Command, pitch Wall to Jarad. GG in my favour.
Of course, life doesn't always work this way, and I have gotten my butt handed to me on a platter when the combo fails before.
Jarad's been much better than Brion Stoutarm in the deck--no nasty RW splash, works when summoning sick, comes back from the dead pretty often, and is enormous late-game (I think I've gotten a 17/17 Jarad once)! Shame he bites it to exile and library stuffing very hard, just like Wurmcoil Engine.
He's also unfortunately best in Pod decks, as those decks not only play loads of creatures that often die, it has a convenient way to boost Jarad against all decks in Birthing Pod.
Certainly has room for abuse. Well see what we can do with him.
I like the way you can drop him with a few guys and use his ability to deal damage and make him bigger.
R// Thalia Zoo
G// Exalted Face Crush
R/ Vampires
Coming soon G// Zombie Smallpox
Legendary Creature - Dryad (m)
Whenever you cast a spell, populate
Creature tokens you control are indestructible
WG,t: Put two 1/1 green Saproling creature tokens onto the battlefield
3/6
221/274 (Index number)
Eh?
Fake.
Sig courtesy of DOLZero
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