Swell of Courage is absolutely insane---one of the most powerful cards in this highly powerful set. Its power level is comparable to Mirror Entity.
Since it pumps an unblocked guy by X, it can win the game right away, like Blaze, and since it puts counters on the target, it can turn a weenie into a game-swinging beatstick.
Early game, you should probably sit on it; mid-game, you'll be dropping 3-4 counters on a blocked guy and beating with him all day; late-game, it's an instant win.
Did I mention it's uncounterable?
(Oh, well, I guess it has another mode, too. But you should only play that in corner cases, like to dodge an Incendiary Command, or if you're attacking with 8 tokens or something.)
I think it's clear that Gilt-Leaf Seer is better in LLM than it was in LLL. He's a combo with any of the Kinship guys (he can make them always hit, if they hit once: reveal a matching card, then activate Gilt-Leaf Seer and switch the top two cards so you'll reveal the same card next turn), and helps the game-winning clash effects like Revenge of the Titans.
How much better is he? A guy I know (Kenny) says this guy is "really good" in LLM. I think he's just OK; decently playable if you have a ton of clash/kinship. What do you think? How high do you pick him? Over Gilt-Leaf Ambush? Elvish Handservant? Warren-Scourge Elf?
They're clearly real:
1) the same source gave us good info for Lor
2) they're all decent cards, correctly-costed, not broken
3) they fit what we already know
4) reinforce is a fine mechanic, which is nothing like cycling
5) kinship is a perfect mechanic for the set
Last ability should be "you lose 6 life and switch", both to make its ultimate more game-winning (see Chandra) and to match the "loyaltylink" on the first two abilities. Maybe start it at 3 then.
But all critiques aside, it's a really cool card; nice job and congrats.
Check the attachment. Ended up mono red. Took second. (Finals: g1 I got screwed, g2 he got Essence Warden + Stormfront Riders + Grinning Ignus = R: Put a 1/1 dork into play and gain 1.) It was a pretty easy draft, very few choices to make.
I don't think Leaf Glider or Kithkin Greatheart are worth taking. To me the choice is between the Veteran and Sygg, and like Nim said, unless Sygg is better than I realize, it's Veteran for me.
Warren Pilferers is really good, we don't want to go into blue, and black is a good place to be if we find some more nice treefolk. I think Pilferers is the pick.
Wow, you guys are nerds. Still, props to Molten Shark for bringing this up eerily close to that article's publication... well done
I do like the idea of eventually seeing places where the 'walkers are from (or at least visited)... maybe we'll see Chandra's Irregulars, Ajani Angel, Jace's Drake, Liliana's Bargain, and Garruk's Embrace in the future.
There are a good number of lands that don't tap for mana, even some recent ones like Dark Depths as previously mentioned, and errataing these for no reason is to be avoided. Imagine if they printed some new lands that don't say you can tap for mana; you'd have to remember that cards older than [setname] need to SAY you can, and cards newer than [setname] need to say you CAN'T. An errata nightmare.
Besides, what's added to the game by making all lands tap for colorless? Not flavor, not (useful) functionality, just rules messiness and---perhaps most of all---a huge pain in the ass on MTGO.
I don't understand - how do you champion a non-faerie? Mistblind Clique specifically states that 'Champion a Faerie'.
Crikey, you're right. I was spoiled by the Changeling champions. This card is not as good as I thought at first. I still think the deck could be viable... take your pick of the flash Faeries.
Well, championing a non-faerie isn't terrible. You still get a 4/4 flyer and you can repeat its CIP ability with a blink. Like I said, I need more ideas for creatures.
Since it pumps an unblocked guy by X, it can win the game right away, like Blaze, and since it puts counters on the target, it can turn a weenie into a game-swinging beatstick.
Early game, you should probably sit on it; mid-game, you'll be dropping 3-4 counters on a blocked guy and beating with him all day; late-game, it's an instant win.
Did I mention it's uncounterable?
(Oh, well, I guess it has another mode, too. But you should only play that in corner cases, like to dodge an Incendiary Command, or if you're attacking with 8 tokens or something.)
How much better is he? A guy I know (Kenny) says this guy is "really good" in LLM. I think he's just OK; decently playable if you have a ton of clash/kinship. What do you think? How high do you pick him? Over Gilt-Leaf Ambush? Elvish Handservant? Warren-Scourge Elf?
1) the same source gave us good info for Lor
2) they're all decent cards, correctly-costed, not broken
3) they fit what we already know
4) reinforce is a fine mechanic, which is nothing like cycling
5) kinship is a perfect mechanic for the set
But all critiques aside, it's a really cool card; nice job and congrats.
I do like the idea of eventually seeing places where the 'walkers are from (or at least visited)... maybe we'll see Chandra's Irregulars, Ajani Angel, Jace's Drake, Liliana's Bargain, and Garruk's Embrace in the future.
There are a good number of lands that don't tap for mana, even some recent ones like Dark Depths as previously mentioned, and errataing these for no reason is to be avoided. Imagine if they printed some new lands that don't say you can tap for mana; you'd have to remember that cards older than [setname] need to SAY you can, and cards newer than [setname] need to say you CAN'T. An errata nightmare.
Besides, what's added to the game by making all lands tap for colorless? Not flavor, not (useful) functionality, just rules messiness and---perhaps most of all---a huge pain in the ass on MTGO.
Crikey, you're right. I was spoiled by the Changeling champions. This card is not as good as I thought at first. I still think the deck could be viable... take your pick of the flash Faeries.