I like the counter spell that synergies with wizards more than the bolt.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Something I realized the other day: is Wizard Lightning something that will find a place in burn? If you're running 2-4 Grim Lavamancer, seems like it could reliably be literal Lightning Bolt 5-8, not sorcery speed, and can hit any target. At worst case, it's Rift Bolt that can only be cast for 3, but still has the instant speed advantage. If nothing else, it might bring Lavamancer back into stronger popularity.
But what do you cut for it? Burn doesn't want to shed a boros charm or a rift bolt or anything else for it.
But yeah no I think they could have easily cut the cost of most of the Legendary Cards by 1 CMC if they don't have green and been just fine. Especially the Lords which could stand to be 1 mana cheaper or have defensive abilities.
The Planeswalkers, I mean especially Jaya fans have waited forever for that? SMFH. I mean yeah I know Chandra was already pushed but they are only going to be in the same meta for a few months. And Teferi, with a name like Hero of Dominaria. I expect a Pushed Card. Especially with WOTC shouts of Diversity and that is the best they can do? I mean its better then Huatli and Samut but is that really the bar? Karn is good though I guess they cannot really make some as good as the previous.
The Weatherlight, sure no Smuggler Copter but it should be Heart of Kiran +. The most legendary ship in all of Magic is at best a top 5 Vehicle out of 25 Vehicles. It should definitely have Heart of Kiran's crew with a Loyalty Counter Ability. I mean it super fits thematically.
Sagas are interesting but overcosted and slow for the most part. And the Legendary Sorceries given the requirements to cast should have way more power, a cheaper cost and/or at least be uncounterable. Both Sagas and Legendary Sorceries at minimum needed to do better at breaking symmetry.
But yeah i say Dominaria is obviously better overall then Amonkhet and Ixalan but still behind Kaladesh. Although HOD did grace us with The Terror of Modern, The Master of Weaponized Variance, The Lord Of All Creatures, The Armless Juggernaut, And The King of Kings, The Mighty Hollow One.
But Overall its fine, I am just not super Impressed by the Return ti the Plane that in MTG Lore has Produced The Greatest of Oldwalkers, Artificers and Archmages.
Something I realized the other day: is Wizard Lightning something that will find a place in burn? If you're running 2-4 Grim Lavamancer, seems like it could reliably be literal Lightning Bolt 5-8, not sorcery speed, and can hit any target. At worst case, it's Rift Bolt that can only be cast for 3, but still has the instant speed advantage. If nothing else, it might bring Lavamancer back into stronger popularity.
But what do you cut for it? Burn doesn't want to shed a boros charm or a rift bolt or anything else for it.
That was my initial point. Is it possible that Wizard Lightning is comparable to Rift Bolt, and therefore has potential to replace it? I think they both have valid pros and cons when put against each other, such as WL being instant speed and easily castable for R, while RB is reliably hitting on turn 2 and not needing creatures for cost reduction. They almost have the same function late game.
The Antiquities War seems really under-rated for some reason. Digging 5 cards deep for an artifact of choice and then ultimately turning all artifacts into 5/5 creatures sounds incredibly good. Also, Phyrexian Scriptures looks easily abused in the right shell. There are a lot of ways to mess with counters and basically lock the entire field down with a never ending board wipe.
I kind of just want to build a deck around the interaction with Power Conduit, persist creatures, and scriptures.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
"At the beginning of combat on your turn, create a token that's a copy of equipped creature, except the token isn't legendary if equipped creature is legendary. That token gains haste."
This card has equip 0 in modern thanks to Sigarda's Aid, puresteel paladin, and in the worse case scenario, Brass Squire. What are all the crazy things that this can get attached to?
Etched Champion (because why not self activate metalcraft.) Kiki-jiki, Mirror breaker (The token isn't legendary AND it has haste. It can self duplicate. Plus the non-legendary copy from the helmet stays in play, so they'd have to remove both the original and the token to prevent someone from just equipping it again.) Brimaz, King of Oreskos or any other card that makes tokens when it comes into play. This is probably the least crazy thing that can be done with it.
Unfortunately, the token isn't an artifact so no Reckless Fireweaver combo to just burn out the opponent, but yeah, this card is going to go into something. However, since most of the tokens die anyway at the end step someone could just end the game with Blood Artist or the like.
Why do I feel like Saffron Olive is going to do a deck on this card?
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Playing since 1994: Currently MAGS (HomeBrew),Standard & Pauper (Pioneer and Modern are degenerate trash formats)
STOP using "dude/bro" as a pejorative or insult. Grow up.
Margaret Thatcher: “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.”
Benjamin Franklin: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
Martin Luther King Jr.: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
But yeah no I think they could have easily cut the cost of most of the Legendary Cards by 1 CMC if they don't have green and been just fine. Especially the Lords which could stand to be 1 mana cheaper or have defensive abilities.
Why? What did green ever do to deserve this?
Seriously, as an elf player I'm extremely disappointed at the wasted potential of Dominaria. No Wirewood Symbiote reprint, Llanowar Scout is a strictly worse Sakura-Tribe Scout and worst of all they just couldn't make Marwyn, the nurturer cost two mana, it would have been a nice attempt at Priest of Titania. Every Elf lord having to cost three mana is the curse of Elves. Merfolk have always had Lord of Atlantisi and other two drops, Humans gets hatebears left and right along Thalia's Liutenant but god forbid you skip Llanowar Elves to cast your two drop elf.
I think at that point the challenge is getting him out while still having deck space for the equipment. Still, even with all the hype driving the prices up on a bunch of cards up front, there are a few that I'm suspicious of that are probably being overlooked or undervalued. The set is going to get opened like crazy, though and there is a HUGE supply of Dominaria coming due to quantities being purchased.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
But yeah no I think they could have easily cut the cost of most of the Legendary Cards by 1 CMC if they don't have green and been just fine. Especially the Lords which could stand to be 1 mana cheaper or have defensive abilities.
Why? What did green ever do to deserve this?
Seriously, as an elf player I'm extremely disappointed at the wasted potential of Dominaria. No Wirewood Symbiote reprint, Llanowar Scout is a strictly worse Sakura-Tribe Scout and worst of all they just couldn't make Marwyn, the nurturer cost two mana, it would have been a nice attempt at Priest of Titania. Every Elf lord having to cost three mana is the curse of Elves. Merfolk have always had Lord of Atlantisi and other two drops, Humans gets hatebears left and right along Thalia's Liutenant but god forbid you skip Llanowar Elves to cast your two drop elf.
Anyone else notice that this set is kind of weird? It feels like it's top heavy on the mana curve. Last block had a lot of good one to three drops. This set feels like most of the powerful cards are 4-6 cost.
That's a very good thing. Putting the power cards in the higher mana costs should help to create a slower limited/standard format.
It probably means that not many of the cards will end up seeing play in modern/legacy. But, honestly, if Damping Sphere is the only modern addition I will be very happy because that card is a net benefit for the format
Obviously, and without any doubt, some modern decks will take Damping Sphere as a sideboard piece. I know I will.
But to me, it's not the only modern playable card. Cast Down will probably see some play, i've been testing it and it would be my pick over Go for the Throat or maybe even Dismember in any non red GBx deck.
I also like the look of Shalai, Voice of Plenty. Don't know which shell exactly but i'm thinking Abzan Liege / Abzan Traverse or something like that. The Township effect is only one green mana extra to activate and could potentially flip the game.
I have a feeling there are more, but maye undiscovered or less Obvious at first glance.
The Antiquities War is already a budget option for Tezzeret in lantern control. Saga's seem greatly under-estimated given in modern there is proliferate and other ways to manipulate counters.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
The Antiquities War is already a budget option for Tezzeret in lantern control. Saga's seem greatly under-estimated given in modern there is proliferate and other ways to manipulate counters.
The Antiquities War looks like a pretty bad substitute, especially since Lantern Control plays 3-4 Ensnaring Bridges and goes Hellbent. I'd rather maindeck Search for Azcanta--it produces more CA.
I tried Teferi, wasnt a huge fan. Is that Goblins deck doing anything??
Besides spiking the price on Fecundity? I got to dig out my childhood dreams and find my copies.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
MTGO iteration is a great way to build tiered decks, and I'm sure the Affinity crowd would be interested to see this track record. Just thought I'd share this here; stumbled across it while browsing decklists and crunching numbers.
I value MTGO results a lot, so I would definitely explore Karn Affinity more if I was an Affinity player.
MTGO iteration is a great way to build tiered decks, and I'm sure the Affinity crowd would be interested to see this track record. Just thought I'd share this here; stumbled across it while browsing decklists and crunching numbers.
I value MTGO results a lot, so I would definitely explore Karn Affinity more if I was an Affinity player.
Good thing I don't have affinity anymore. Would have been forced to buy Karns if I still had my robots deck. Karn looks like he fit right into the strategy, and also allow the deck to grind a bit.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
But what do you cut for it? Burn doesn't want to shed a boros charm or a rift bolt or anything else for it.
Aggro: Naya Burn RWG
Combo: Scapeshift RG
Control: Jeskai Control UWR
Legacy
Control: Miracles UW
Aggro: Burn R
Jace Signature Spellbook
But yeah no I think they could have easily cut the cost of most of the Legendary Cards by 1 CMC if they don't have green and been just fine. Especially the Lords which could stand to be 1 mana cheaper or have defensive abilities.
The Planeswalkers, I mean especially Jaya fans have waited forever for that? SMFH. I mean yeah I know Chandra was already pushed but they are only going to be in the same meta for a few months. And Teferi, with a name like Hero of Dominaria. I expect a Pushed Card. Especially with WOTC shouts of Diversity and that is the best they can do? I mean its better then Huatli and Samut but is that really the bar? Karn is good though I guess they cannot really make some as good as the previous.
The Weatherlight, sure no Smuggler Copter but it should be Heart of Kiran +. The most legendary ship in all of Magic is at best a top 5 Vehicle out of 25 Vehicles. It should definitely have Heart of Kiran's crew with a Loyalty Counter Ability. I mean it super fits thematically.
Sagas are interesting but overcosted and slow for the most part. And the Legendary Sorceries given the requirements to cast should have way more power, a cheaper cost and/or at least be uncounterable. Both Sagas and Legendary Sorceries at minimum needed to do better at breaking symmetry.
But yeah i say Dominaria is obviously better overall then Amonkhet and Ixalan but still behind Kaladesh. Although HOD did grace us with The Terror of Modern, The Master of Weaponized Variance, The Lord Of All Creatures, The Armless Juggernaut, And The King of Kings, The Mighty Hollow One.
But Overall its fine, I am just not super Impressed by the Return ti the Plane that in MTG Lore has Produced The Greatest of Oldwalkers, Artificers and Archmages.
That was my initial point. Is it possible that Wizard Lightning is comparable to Rift Bolt, and therefore has potential to replace it? I think they both have valid pros and cons when put against each other, such as WL being instant speed and easily castable for R, while RB is reliably hitting on turn 2 and not needing creatures for cost reduction. They almost have the same function late game.
I kind of just want to build a deck around the interaction with Power Conduit, persist creatures, and scriptures.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
"At the beginning of combat on your turn, create a token that's a copy of equipped creature, except the token isn't legendary if equipped creature is legendary. That token gains haste."
This card has equip 0 in modern thanks to Sigarda's Aid, puresteel paladin, and in the worse case scenario, Brass Squire. What are all the crazy things that this can get attached to?
Etched Champion (because why not self activate metalcraft.)
Kiki-jiki, Mirror breaker (The token isn't legendary AND it has haste. It can self duplicate. Plus the non-legendary copy from the helmet stays in play, so they'd have to remove both the original and the token to prevent someone from just equipping it again.)
Brimaz, King of Oreskos or any other card that makes tokens when it comes into play. This is probably the least crazy thing that can be done with it.
Unfortunately, the token isn't an artifact so no Reckless Fireweaver combo to just burn out the opponent, but yeah, this card is going to go into something. However, since most of the tokens die anyway at the end step someone could just end the game with Blood Artist or the like.
Why do I feel like Saffron Olive is going to do a deck on this card?
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Oh, definitely he will.
Why not think bigger too, like Emrakul, the Aeons Torn? Annihilator 12 ???
STOP using "dude/bro" as a pejorative or insult. Grow up.
Margaret Thatcher: “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.”
Benjamin Franklin: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
Martin Luther King Jr.: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
Why? What did green ever do to deserve this?
Seriously, as an elf player I'm extremely disappointed at the wasted potential of Dominaria. No Wirewood Symbiote reprint, Llanowar Scout is a strictly worse Sakura-Tribe Scout and worst of all they just couldn't make Marwyn, the nurturer cost two mana, it would have been a nice attempt at Priest of Titania. Every Elf lord having to cost three mana is the curse of Elves. Merfolk have always had Lord of Atlantisi and other two drops, Humans gets hatebears left and right along Thalia's Liutenant but god forbid you skip Llanowar Elves to cast your two drop elf.
Welp, Broken Bond looks promising for Big Mana.
I think at that point the challenge is getting him out while still having deck space for the equipment. Still, even with all the hype driving the prices up on a bunch of cards up front, there are a few that I'm suspicious of that are probably being overlooked or undervalued. The set is going to get opened like crazy, though and there is a HUGE supply of Dominaria coming due to quantities being purchased.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Lol maybe I am being hard on green also most of these kickers are overpriced and underpowered with not near enough ramp to hit them.
Obviously, and without any doubt, some modern decks will take Damping Sphere as a sideboard piece. I know I will.
But to me, it's not the only modern playable card. Cast Down will probably see some play, i've been testing it and it would be my pick over Go for the Throat or maybe even Dismember in any non red GBx deck.
I also like the look of Shalai, Voice of Plenty. Don't know which shell exactly but i'm thinking Abzan Liege / Abzan Traverse or something like that. The Township effect is only one green mana extra to activate and could potentially flip the game.
I have a feeling there are more, but maye undiscovered or less Obvious at first glance.
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW Bushwhacker Zoo -
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Tooth & Nail........Grishoalbrand....Living Dominance....Tezzerator.........Vannifar Pod
My Decks that have been BANNED
DRS Jund | Kiki-Pod | Bloom Titan | Splinter Twin | KCI
The Antiquities War looks like a pretty bad substitute, especially since Lantern Control plays 3-4 Ensnaring Bridges and goes Hellbent. I'd rather maindeck Search for Azcanta--it produces more CA.
Spirits
I see MTGO decks using Karn and Teferi. Haven't seen much of anything else that seems to be getting much work.
Spirits
Besides spiking the price on Fecundity? I got to dig out my childhood dreams and find my copies.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
I value MTGO results a lot, so I would definitely explore Karn Affinity more if I was an Affinity player.
If that card takes off in Modern it's going to get expensive.
Spirits
Good thing I don't have affinity anymore. Would have been forced to buy Karns if I still had my robots deck. Karn looks like he fit right into the strategy, and also allow the deck to grind a bit.
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Want to play a UW control deck in modern, but don't have jace or snaps?
Please come visit us at the Emeria Titan control thread