I dont really see how my opp would scoop unless he is playing ONLY nonbasic lands AND nonblack creatures and ALSO not drawing ANY removal at all. Also, remember that in limited you only get a couple of boosters to work with, so it is highly unlikely that you'll get more than one copy, and even more unlikely that you'll consistently play this guildmage on turn 2. But to tone it down a bit, perhaps you can add a little life payment on each ability (one life would be optimal, two life would be acceptable, more than that would make the guildmage useless)
First of all, I doubt WotC development takes into account how often you'll draw a certain card when evaluating its power. Second, even if the first activation cost were four life, I would still pay it. Repetetive creature kill is amazing (AMAZING) in limited, especially "destroy" effects (compare this ability on a creature to that of a one-time effect and you'll see the advantages of the former). You should take a look at some draft games and decide how dropping your version of the Rakdos guildmage would affect the course of the match. The virtual card advantage it produces is through the roof.
Your plays (assuming you're on the play):
Turn 1: Land
T2: Land, Guildmage
T3: Dual/regular Land, another creature, swing (maybe) with guildmage
T4: Land/not, activate ability targeting oppopnent's recently cast three-drop creature, swing with guildmage and possibly your three-drop
Opp: approx. 14 life with zero creature on the board :: You: approx. 20 life with two creatures on the board.
This scenario assumes that your opponent's first plays until turn three were solely land-drops. But even if s/he played a two-drop, you simply don't attack with guildmage on your third turn and then play a creature of your own, waiting until you get up to four mana to kill the opposing threat/s.
This ability is clearly overpowered as originally posted. Paying four or more life in addition to the 3B makes it more balanced, but even then, it may be too strong for limited.
Also, I didn't see a review of Mortify, which was disappointing since I'm not sure whether I should play it. It's so much worse than Putrefy, after all.
Rant: Anyone updating this thread? I'm certainly glad that someone offered to do this for the mtgs community, but do it correctly pelase. It's been three days without an update. Thanks!
After having seen the two new Izzet commons (the firebreathing Drake and the encanced Weird that CIP deals 2 dmg to target creature or player), I say ABSOLUTELY PLAYABLE! WOOT IZZET! Oops, must keep the secret, must keep the secret. *shhhhhhh*
@Maga: I agree, acually. Multiple Vertigo Spawns, Wee Dragonauts, and Ogre Savants combined with excellent instants= a strategy in itself. Having an Invoke the Firemind or two wouldn't hurt, either.
But in all seriousness, I think the spoiler's missing one or two staple Izzet commons that would make the deck much stronger.
I agree that Izzet's tricks are excellent. However, my main point was that the common creatures in Izzet are too weak/few to support the archetype. Also, we've failed to take into account the possibility that more than one drafter will go into Izzet, which limits the chance that you'd crack a bomb uncommon.
And why is Pyromatics a good card? At best, it's a 4cc double-color casting cost 2 damage burn spell. "Meh"-hood.
Right now, we have about 90% of the spoiler, and The Izzet isn't looking up imo, at least from a limited perspective. Its common creatures are lackluster (although Ogre Savant and Wee Dragonauts are personal favorites), and, despite an abundance powerful uncommons and rares, commons are typically what constitutes the bulk of limited decks. With that said, I do not think The Izzet is a plausible GGG draft strategy barring a deck constructed primarily of uncommons and Niv-Mizzet.
I mean, Petrahydrox? C'mon! The common creatures just aren't there.
Can anyone salvage what little hope I have left of drafting an Izzet deck at my prerelease's GGG drafts?
Well, there are still 8 white slots open. Belfy Spirit, Ghost Warden, Lionheart Maverick, Order of the Stars, Shadow Lance, Sinstriker's Will, Spelltithe Enforcer, Skyrider Trainee.
Lionheart Maverick seems the most likely choice then. A savannah reprint would be sick beyond belief with savannah and isamaru in the format. But I can't help wondering what else it could be. Perhaps this?
Lionheart Maverick W
Creature- Human Soldier
As long as a card is removed from the game, Lionheart Maverick gets +1/+2
1/1
Lionheart Maverick has already been confirmed as:
W (C)
1/1
4W: Lionheart Maverick gets +1/+2 until end of turn.
Edit: (Beaten to the punch.)
I do agree with you about the Spelltithe Enforcer, which "sounds like" a powerful one-drop. But, on the other hand, "Enforcer" sounds bigger than a one-drop.
Why are people so excited about Leyline of the Void? As a card that does nothing on itself and hoses only a rather limited set cards, it's at best marginally playable.
Because, as mentioned in previous posts, it negates entire extended strategies (e.g., Ichorid, CAL, Psychatog), as well as hosing several popular type 2 cards (Gifts Ungiven, legendary dragons, Dredge mechanic).
Saturday in Syracuse, NY. Will wear clothes, including a Cornell U. hoodie. Will also have a small fan club from school, complete with trademarked "KICK SOME LIMITED A$$, SPYROS" sign in full view. I also like long walks on the beach.
That's not the Dissension Orb of Insight you just checked anyways (which is where the Split Cards were slated for, at least by way of R_E's source.
I was off by 2 min...darn. But I do like your quote, Qasur. Meloku does look like one of those pervert insular types.
Yeah, so I think the split cards are really cool, and they will see a lot of constructed play too! Also, I hope they reprint some of them, especially Fire // Ice. Umm, and I think The Simic will be the only guild to get split cards...?
I have a feeling that the 10 Inv/Apoc Splits will be reprinted. Why? Because their names are reprintable. Wizards doesn't do that kind of thing by accident. Then we'll get 5 new ones of something.... not sure what.
You're WRONG! I checked their names on the ORB, and Ice doesn't come up. So ha-ha...! Life does 29 times though, and Death comes up once (maybe they reprinted only Life // Death?). But that's sooo out of flavor for Gruul!! OMg!!!!!!111!!!!1!!
First of all, I doubt WotC development takes into account how often you'll draw a certain card when evaluating its power. Second, even if the first activation cost were four life, I would still pay it. Repetetive creature kill is amazing (AMAZING) in limited, especially "destroy" effects (compare this ability on a creature to that of a one-time effect and you'll see the advantages of the former). You should take a look at some draft games and decide how dropping your version of the Rakdos guildmage would affect the course of the match. The virtual card advantage it produces is through the roof.
Your plays (assuming you're on the play):
Turn 1: Land
T2: Land, Guildmage
T3: Dual/regular Land, another creature, swing (maybe) with guildmage
T4: Land/not, activate ability targeting oppopnent's recently cast three-drop creature, swing with guildmage and possibly your three-drop
Opp: approx. 14 life with zero creature on the board :: You: approx. 20 life with two creatures on the board.
This scenario assumes that your opponent's first plays until turn three were solely land-drops. But even if s/he played a two-drop, you simply don't attack with guildmage on your third turn and then play a creature of your own, waiting until you get up to four mana to kill the opposing threat/s.
This ability is clearly overpowered as originally posted. Paying four or more life in addition to the 3B makes it more balanced, but even then, it may be too strong for limited.
Great set review otherwise! 8^)
But in all seriousness, I think the spoiler's missing one or two staple Izzet commons that would make the deck much stronger.
I've lost to that combo...soooooooooooooooooooooooooo annoying, especially when you're one card away from making him discard Tunnel.
And why is Pyromatics a good card? At best, it's a 4cc double-color casting cost 2 damage burn spell. "Meh"-hood.
(Edited for clarity.)
I mean, Petrahydrox? C'mon! The common creatures just aren't there.
Can anyone salvage what little hope I have left of drafting an Izzet deck at my prerelease's GGG drafts?
(Edited for stuff.)
Lionheart Maverick has already been confirmed as:
W (C)
1/1
4W: Lionheart Maverick gets +1/+2 until end of turn.
Edit: (Beaten to the punch.)
I do agree with you about the Spelltithe Enforcer, which "sounds like" a powerful one-drop. But, on the other hand, "Enforcer" sounds bigger than a one-drop.
"There are good one-drops, both the old faithful hound and a new weapon."
Old faithful hound = Isamaru, Hound of Konda.
New weapon = an Orzhov one-drop, most likely near the power level of Isamaru in Zvi's opinion.
This is all hypothetical, of course, and probably doesn't reflect Zvi's views precisely.
Because, as mentioned in previous posts, it negates entire extended strategies (e.g., Ichorid, CAL, Psychatog), as well as hosing several popular type 2 cards (Gifts Ungiven, legendary dragons, Dredge mechanic).
It's solid.
(Edited for stuff.)
I was off by 2 min...darn. But I do like your quote, Qasur. Meloku does look like one of those pervert insular types.
Yeah, so I think the split cards are really cool, and they will see a lot of constructed play too! Also, I hope they reprint some of them, especially Fire // Ice. Umm, and I think The Simic will be the only guild to get split cards...?
You're WRONG! I checked their names on the ORB, and Ice doesn't come up. So ha-ha...! Life does 29 times though, and Death comes up once (maybe they reprinted only Life // Death?). But that's sooo out of flavor for Gruul!! OMg!!!!!!111!!!!1!!
My guess is 3 minutes.