Path to exile says that hydra won't see play, and I don't think anyone here is going to tell Path that it's wrong.
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YMTC: We need a spikey red enchantment. My creations:
RR
Whenever a player taps a nonbasic land, [Card] deals 2 damage to them.
-or-
R
Whenever a player would gain life, flip a coin. If heads, that player loses that much life instead. If tails sacrifice [card] and that player gains that life as per usual.
I will always tell 'dies to removal' that it's wrong.
Path to exile says the same thing about every non-hexproof card in the format. And yet they still see play.
To be fair, it does matter for some decks.
Ones that run few critters and need to make them count because it's their means of closing the game (coughSphinxofJwarIsleforcontrolfinishercough).
But critters die. And water is wet.
And you'll never storm like Finkel storms.
Didnt see anything too nutzo. I'll make a list later, but I highly suspect that Moderns gone the way of legacy more and more each set. That is to say there will be less and less "playable cards"
Hydra has got to fnd a home somewhere, blue is just a little to prevalent in modern these days. Hydra has is low commitment but scales into late game just fine. It cannot be bounced or countered. I picture it in a GB rock-like shell, with heavy board control via Abrupt Decay and Maelstrom, Liliana and Garruk, mana ramp and finks - Garruk pumps up hydra to finish the job.
Sure, we can say dies to removal, but thats not what ends it for me. the fact is those decks that are "very blue" in modern... Arent. They are boros control decks with blue for counters. helix and bolt will still kill it until turn 4. Path takes it out after that. Sure in dodges 1/3rd of the deck, but smiter (good comparaison) skips 3/4ths of the deck.
Didnt see anything too nutzo. I'll make a list later, but I highly suspect that Moderns gone the way of legacy more and more each set. That is to say there will be less and less "playable cards"
Im actually very cool with this. Not every set needs a Deathrite Shaman or Delver of Secrets or Snapcaster Mage to drastically change the format. This isnt standard. If we only get a few modern role players and 1-2 big additions to the format each block I will consider that block a major success.
Breaching Hippocamp, it's going to do something stupid. You know it's going to.
Yes, I think Breaching Hippocamp will do stupid stuff to Tempo Twin and maybe UWR Angel Twin. What flex slots will be pulled in those decks for the Hippocamp, though? Cantrips? Removal?
Also, Boon of Erebos looks decent in BUG Infect. For only B (and the loss of 2 life on resolution), you can pump your guy for +2/+0 and regenerate it at instant speed! It's like more copies of Vines of Vastwood (or maybe Ranger's Guile)! Heck, your guy survives board wipes with this card!
How good would Colossus of Akros be in Mono-U Tron? For only 8, you get an indestructible 10/10...with Defender...but that will grow to a trampling, non-defending 20/20 for only 10!
Swan Song- Powerful unconditional 1 cmc counter. More I read it the more I think it goes only in control countering combos... and combos keeping there combos from discard and other counters...
Sylvan Caryatid- 2 cmc wall that doesnt die to bolt. And makes mana. Very very cool. might show up and pod and stuff. I'm sure itd see play somewhere. Least its a good tool to keep in mind when deck building.
Xenagos, the Reveler- I have a feeling ajani is better in the type of deck that wants him. still, Id think hes powerful in a nic fit type of deck.
Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver- Wild guess... but esper control which wants a 3 cmc controling non critter win con.
Bow of Nylea- OK, I'm sure about this. It has 4 abilities... repeatable. I totally see this seeing play. One of its deals is gain life, making it good against aggro. then the other kills flying tokens. Theres a ton of applications. Nylea's jitte.
Destructive Revelry- Im using it. Lol. Its really good. Aggro's disenchant.
Chained to the Rocks - path 5-8. Could see play in boros control (u) why not?
The gods- I actually dont think any will see play. they might in fringe decks. But nothing real. its like win more for most that could. I still think they are EDH cards.
The self hate cycle- sure. it will see play as much as any hate card will. Nothing taking over the meta, but are tools.
Pretty sure you'd rather want Deglamer at that point.
Living End can't play cards with CMC 2 or less because they risk cascading into them instead of LE.
---
I don't see anything that really could see play, other than Thoughtseize and Swan Song. Even then, Swan Song will only be played if Wizards relents on combo cards being on the ban list. What Theros has been good at is providing redundant effects for new or existing decks:
- Soldier of the Pantheon, Tormented Hero, Firedrinker Satyr are 2/1s for 1. Mono black Bad Moon aggro, anyone?
- Breaching Hippocamp is a Twin creature that doesn't die or drop to 0 power under a global -1/-1 effect. Unfortunately, it costs 4.
- Commune with the Gods is an extra Grisly Salvage.
- Nylea's Presence is an extra Abundant Growth (and it maxes Domain, wow!).
- Sylvan Caryatid is an extra 2-mana defender mana dork (with Wall of Roots, Overgrown Battlement and Vine Trellis).
- Fleecemane Lion is an extra (better) Watchwolf.
Cards that I think are "sweet" in a LSV way:
Yoked Ox (in a Doran deck)
Fate Foretold
Omenspeaker (worse Augur of Bolas)
Akroan Crusader
Spark Jolt
Voyaging Satyr
I get the feeling a lot of this set is going to find its way into decks at some point despite the initial disappointment from a lot of people hoping for the next DRS. There are lot of niche cards ahead of the curve that are going to edge out competition in decks that may not be super popular right now.
Cards like Boon Satyr, Agent of the Fates, Fleecemane Lion, Dragon Mantle, Read the Bones. They could easily find homes somewhere down the line.
Akroan Hoplite looks sort of decent. If you swing with it and 2 other creatures, it's a 4/2 on the swing for only RW, but man, it sucks on the defense...
Doubt it's enough to make a splash. Forces you to overextend to have lots of power, and even then you could just run Plated Geopede and fetches and have the same/more power.
Yes, I think Breaching Hippocamp will do stupid stuff to Tempo Twin and maybe UWR Angel Twin. What flex slots will be pulled in those decks for the Hippocamp, though? Cantrips? Removal?
Man you don't really read the cards or something, i can't think of a single situation where that card is better than any of the existing options and i would go as far as to say it isn't rare for a block to have a variant of that effect at the same cmc every year, this one has nothing spicy about it, so really what are you talking about? am i missing something?
Warrior's Lesson, G
Instant
Until end of turn, up to two target creatures you control each gain "Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, draw a card."
Surely that has to see play somewhere right? It's a conditional divination but it should be pretty easy to hit that condition in the right deck and it's potentially 2 cards for 1 mana without any super crazy restrictions.
Am I overvaluing it? It seems like a pretty solid card to help make sure you don't run out of gas.
Warrior's Lesson, G
Instant
Until end of turn, up to two target creatures you control each gain "Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, draw a card."
Surely that has to see play somewhere right? It's a conditional divination but it should be pretty easy to hit that condition in the right deck and it's potentially 2 cards for 1 mana without any super crazy restrictions.
Am I overvaluing it? It seems like a pretty solid card to help make sure you don't run out of gas.
I have mixed feelings on this card. I feel like on the surface it shouldn't be hard to connect with 2 creatures(specifically being an instant, so you can do it post-blockers).
But on the other hand I feel like the decks that want that effect are those that need really high threat density for those explosive starts(zoo). And it's made worse by the fact that it's a dead draw when you're behind.
Colossus of Akros
8 Artifact Creature — Golem Rare
Defender, indestructible.
10: Monstrosity 10. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put ten +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
As long as Colossus of Akros is monstrous, it has trample and can attack as though it didn't have defender.
10/10
Is this a viable option for Tron? That deck could bring him out in turn 4 easily and attack for 20 in turn 5.
Nah, they already have better options. Turn 3-4 Karn is more reliable. This thing can get exiled or bounced.
Colossus of Akros
8 Artifact Creature — Golem Rare
Defender, indestructible.
10: Monstrosity 10. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put ten +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
As long as Colossus of Akros is monstrous, it has trample and can attack as though it didn't have defender.
10/10
Is this a viable option for Tron? That deck could bring him out in turn 4 easily and attack for 20 in turn 5.
What creature sees play right now that costs 8 and doesnt have an immediate impact when it enters the battlefield. Is there a creature that cost 7 like that? The only one i can think of that costs 6 is wurmcoil.
This basically costs 18 over 2 turns and dies to the most (or second most) common removal spell in the format - PTE.
who cares about the mana cost? it is well within Tron's range.
Nope. It costs 8, and assembling the full Tron on turn 3 only gives you 7. That makes it one turn slower than Wurmcoil and Karn. That one turn could very well be the difference between dying to an aggro deck and stabilizing instead. Speaking of which, Colossus doesn't even have lifelink, so it's pretty much worse than Wurmcoil.
The only thing this is replacing is an Eldrazi titan. However, an uncounterable, timewalking (= haste), annihilator 6 creature is much, much better than Colossus.
Shipwreck singer seems like a creature that can be useful in modern. Kills bobs, snapcasters, shamans without a target, tokens, soul sister.dek, Thalia, delvers, empty the warrens, bunch of stuff in pod or other random 2/2's and 1/1's.
Looks like they aimed her to be utility creature killer.
So I think Tymaret is exactly what Dredgevine and Dredge strategies generally was looking for. To my knowledge, he is the only sacrifice outlet that works from the graveyard that is also legal in Modern. Sure, he costs mana unlike the legendary Dread Return, but 2 mana really isn't that much, especially when it is usable at instant speed.
With a graveyard-based sac outlet, Dredge can now actually abuse the most powerful part of its engine: Bridge From Below. You can't abuse it nearly as much as you can with DR, but you can still grind out a considerable horde of zombies. Tymaret even doubles as a win condition by directly flinging dudes at your opponent, which in turn makes more zombies from Bridge.
Ooze and DRS would remain a problem with such a strategy, but alongside cards like Lightning Axe and Darkblast, you might be able to overcome that in exchange for all the value that Tymaret grinds out over a few turns. Tym also synergizes well with Gravecrawler for an added bonus.
So I think Tymaret is exactly what Dredgevine and Dredge strategies generally was looking for. To my knowledge, he is the only sacrifice outlet that works from the graveyard that is also legal in Modern. Sure, he costs mana unlike the legendary Dread Return, but 2 mana really isn't that much, especially when it is usable at instant speed.
With a graveyard-based sac outlet, Dredge can now actually abuse the most powerful part of its engine: Bridge From Below. You can't abuse it nearly as much as you can with DR, but you can still grind out a considerable horde of zombies. Tymaret even doubles as a win condition by directly flinging dudes at your opponent, which in turn makes more zombies from Bridge.
Ooze and DRS would remain a problem with such a strategy, but alongside cards like Lightning Axe and Darkblast, you might be able to overcome that in exchange for all the value that Tymaret grinds out over a few turns. Tym also synergizes well with Gravecrawler for an added bonus.
I did a try at a BR Falkenrath Aristocrat deck with Tyramet. It was a typical zombie build and I used Viscera Seer as a sac outlet. I was then thinking dredge after that. I'm sure someone will break it.
Whenever a player taps a nonbasic land, [Card] deals 2 damage to them.
-or-
R
Whenever a player would gain life, flip a coin. If heads, that player loses that much life instead. If tails sacrifice [card] and that player gains that life as per usual.
Fires Rf Salvation
But seriously, "dies to removal" is not what kills the Hydra.
I will always tell 'dies to removal' that it's wrong.
Path to exile says the same thing about every non-hexproof card in the format. And yet they still see play.
To be fair, it does matter for some decks.
Ones that run few critters and need to make them count because it's their means of closing the game (coughSphinxofJwarIsleforcontrolfinishercough).
But critters die. And water is wet.
And you'll never storm like Finkel storms.
Such is life in the red zone.
Breaching Hippocamp, it's going to do something stupid. You know it's going to.
Target Creature gets +3/+1 until end of turn. Scry 1
Good enough for RUG infect?
Sure, we can say dies to removal, but thats not what ends it for me. the fact is those decks that are "very blue" in modern... Arent. They are boros control decks with blue for counters. helix and bolt will still kill it until turn 4. Path takes it out after that. Sure in dodges 1/3rd of the deck, but smiter (good comparaison) skips 3/4ths of the deck.
Im actually very cool with this. Not every set needs a Deathrite Shaman or Delver of Secrets or Snapcaster Mage to drastically change the format. This isnt standard. If we only get a few modern role players and 1-2 big additions to the format each block I will consider that block a major success.
Possibly Boon of Erebus in a Mono Black Control deck using the infect critter package? It's a stretch, but it could be playable.
Yes, I think Breaching Hippocamp will do stupid stuff to Tempo Twin and maybe UWR Angel Twin. What flex slots will be pulled in those decks for the Hippocamp, though? Cantrips? Removal?
Also, Boon of Erebos looks decent in BUG Infect. For only B (and the loss of 2 life on resolution), you can pump your guy for +2/+0 and regenerate it at instant speed! It's like more copies of Vines of Vastwood (or maybe Ranger's Guile)! Heck, your guy survives board wipes with this card!
How good would Colossus of Akros be in Mono-U Tron? For only 8, you get an indestructible 10/10...with Defender...but that will grow to a trampling, non-defending 20/20 for only 10!
Sylvan Caryatid- 2 cmc wall that doesnt die to bolt. And makes mana. Very very cool. might show up and pod and stuff. I'm sure itd see play somewhere. Least its a good tool to keep in mind when deck building.
Xenagos, the Reveler- I have a feeling ajani is better in the type of deck that wants him. still, Id think hes powerful in a nic fit type of deck.
Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver- Wild guess... but esper control which wants a 3 cmc controling non critter win con.
Bow of Nylea- OK, I'm sure about this. It has 4 abilities... repeatable. I totally see this seeing play. One of its deals is gain life, making it good against aggro. then the other kills flying tokens. Theres a ton of applications. Nylea's jitte.
Destructive Revelry- Im using it. Lol. Its really good. Aggro's disenchant.
Chained to the Rocks - path 5-8. Could see play in boros control (u) why not?
The gods- I actually dont think any will see play. they might in fringe decks. But nothing real. its like win more for most that could. I still think they are EDH cards.
The self hate cycle- sure. it will see play as much as any hate card will. Nothing taking over the meta, but are tools.
Living End can't play cards with CMC 2 or less because they risk cascading into them instead of LE.
---
I don't see anything that really could see play, other than Thoughtseize and Swan Song. Even then, Swan Song will only be played if Wizards relents on combo cards being on the ban list. What Theros has been good at is providing redundant effects for new or existing decks:
- Soldier of the Pantheon, Tormented Hero, Firedrinker Satyr are 2/1s for 1. Mono black Bad Moon aggro, anyone?
- Breaching Hippocamp is a Twin creature that doesn't die or drop to 0 power under a global -1/-1 effect. Unfortunately, it costs 4.
- Commune with the Gods is an extra Grisly Salvage.
- Nylea's Presence is an extra Abundant Growth (and it maxes Domain, wow!).
- Sylvan Caryatid is an extra 2-mana defender mana dork (with Wall of Roots, Overgrown Battlement and Vine Trellis).
- Fleecemane Lion is an extra (better) Watchwolf.
Cards that I think are "sweet" in a LSV way:
Yoked Ox (in a Doran deck)
Fate Foretold
Omenspeaker (worse Augur of Bolas)
Akroan Crusader
Spark Jolt
Voyaging Satyr
| Ad Nauseam
| Infect
Big Johnny.
Cards like Boon Satyr, Agent of the Fates, Fleecemane Lion, Dragon Mantle, Read the Bones. They could easily find homes somewhere down the line.
Man you don't really read the cards or something, i can't think of a single situation where that card is better than any of the existing options and i would go as far as to say it isn't rare for a block to have a variant of that effect at the same cmc every year, this one has nothing spicy about it, so really what are you talking about? am i missing something?
Instant
Until end of turn, up to two target creatures you control each gain "Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, draw a card."
Surely that has to see play somewhere right? It's a conditional divination but it should be pretty easy to hit that condition in the right deck and it's potentially 2 cards for 1 mana without any super crazy restrictions.
Am I overvaluing it? It seems like a pretty solid card to help make sure you don't run out of gas.
I have mixed feelings on this card. I feel like on the surface it shouldn't be hard to connect with 2 creatures(specifically being an instant, so you can do it post-blockers).
But on the other hand I feel like the decks that want that effect are those that need really high threat density for those explosive starts(zoo). And it's made worse by the fact that it's a dead draw when you're behind.
Nah, they already have better options. Turn 3-4 Karn is more reliable. This thing can get exiled or bounced.
What creature sees play right now that costs 8 and doesnt have an immediate impact when it enters the battlefield. Is there a creature that cost 7 like that? The only one i can think of that costs 6 is wurmcoil.
This basically costs 18 over 2 turns and dies to the most (or second most) common removal spell in the format - PTE.
The card is incredibly bad.
Nope. It costs 8, and assembling the full Tron on turn 3 only gives you 7. That makes it one turn slower than Wurmcoil and Karn. That one turn could very well be the difference between dying to an aggro deck and stabilizing instead. Speaking of which, Colossus doesn't even have lifelink, so it's pretty much worse than Wurmcoil.
The only thing this is replacing is an Eldrazi titan. However, an uncounterable, timewalking (= haste), annihilator 6 creature is much, much better than Colossus.
| Ad Nauseam
| Infect
Big Johnny.
Looks like they aimed her to be utility creature killer.
With a graveyard-based sac outlet, Dredge can now actually abuse the most powerful part of its engine: Bridge From Below. You can't abuse it nearly as much as you can with DR, but you can still grind out a considerable horde of zombies. Tymaret even doubles as a win condition by directly flinging dudes at your opponent, which in turn makes more zombies from Bridge.
Ooze and DRS would remain a problem with such a strategy, but alongside cards like Lightning Axe and Darkblast, you might be able to overcome that in exchange for all the value that Tymaret grinds out over a few turns. Tym also synergizes well with Gravecrawler for an added bonus.
I did a try at a BR Falkenrath Aristocrat deck with Tyramet. It was a typical zombie build and I used Viscera Seer as a sac outlet. I was then thinking dredge after that. I'm sure someone will break it.