We're going to get the full set of fetch lands. Since I've been playing Magic these lands have been demanded to be reprinted. It took them eight years to print the enemy versions and now that we have the shock lands reprinted it only seems natural to print the fetches. It'll create an interesting dynamic in standard and help level modern.
If I have a Delver of Secrets on the battlefield then cast a Phantasmal Image copying the Delver what happens to the Image when it flips? Does it become an Insectile Aberration or does it become a face down card with no abilities/power/toughness /etc?
I was thinking about this last night after the Pit Fight was spoiled, but what if the reason that the Guild Champions weren't printed in Return to Ravnica and Gatecrash is because they're going to be in the third set Dragon Maze? Dragon Maze could be simply a battle royale between the guilds for winner take all supremacy of Ravinca. What are your thoughts on this?
But then why not just run Tooth with the I win right now factor.
I wouldn't run them strictly because it doesn't push it over the edge like hard casting one of them does. You want that extra turn or the vindicate or the draw four.
First off, you either want Kozilek or Emrakul in extended. People play Path to Exile far more than any "destroy target creature" removal. Emrakul is actually nigh unkillable and will probably win the game, but Tron itself only generates 7 mana between signets and colored and such 10, 11, or 12 shouldn't be too bad, but 15 is pushing it especially against decks rocking large amounts of burn or decks like zoo where an eldrazi a turn later can be a turn too late. Kozilek may die as easily as Ulamog, but I'd rather have my path target stapled to a Tidings rather than a Vindicate and be a mana cheaper.
As for realms uncharted and life from the loam, loam is reasonable and has seen play in tron decks before as a solid engine, but the issue is that realms uncharted can't get you the combo. Say you have one of the urza tron lands. What's your realms pile? The other two lands, tolaria west, and... maybe academy ruins.
Seriously even if you just need one combo piece you can't get it without slow-rolling and serious mind-games. If you have an active life from the loam it is a different story, but the best way in the format outside of Hedron Crab and Glimpse the Unthinkable to get an active loam is Gifts Ungiven.
Setting up Engineered Explosives recursion with Academy Ruins against Zoo is pretty much GG unless you're in burn range which, granted, is not unreasonable.
The point is realms uncharted is just plain bad in comparison to Gifts Ungiven. Sure it costs a mana more, but you're playing a deck that wants to generate 13 mana a turn. Also, you'll usually be casting them on the same turn anyway since you really want to make a signet on turn 2 and cast gifts on turn 3. Realms Uncharted can be cast on turn 3 without a signet, but it has so much less power that I would never play it in any format where I could play Gifts Ungiven.
I totally agree with you on Gifts it a superior card to realms in being able to go and grab cards that help. But I don't think that Realms should be ignored for it's ability to not only grab pieces of tron but also the two other lands that are going to help this deck out: Eldrazi Temple and Eye of Ugin. With these extra lands the possibility to hard cast a Emrakul goes up. And it also combos well with Life From the Loam. I'm not saying that it should be a four of more like a 1 or 2 of.
I think this would almost work better as a G/U tron and run Realms Uncharted and Life from the Loam. In my opinion the only Eldrazi worth playing is Emrakul. If you only run him you can stuff your deck with tutors, ramp, draw, and counters to move things along or stall.
This is an idea that I've been tooling around with since I saw Amulet of Vigor. The whole idea is to lock down the game with Root Maze + Amulet of Vigor (which keeps your opponent one step behind you) and set up a turn four Iona, Shield of Emeria. A sideboard hasn't exactly been decided upon because i still feel the deck needs some more work.
After thinking about this guy for a day or so, i've come to the conclusion that he would be pretty sweet in MBC in extended. Mostly because of cheap sac outlets like plunge into darkness and Miren, the moaning well.
I was thinking about this today. There are enough one drops to conceivably make this any good. BUT you could make this into a GB deck that's a little suicidal:
i think they made these fetches becuz of onslaught rotating out in extended and not pissing extended players off too much.. but the enemy colors arent as good as the friendly ones.. still, its fetchlands..
also becuz of LANDFALL!!!!! woot.. you cant argue with fetches... they will fetch you a pretty penny as well as a very cool full art land!!
Fetchlands were one of the things that kept me out of playing extended for the longest time. I was excited to be able to play in extended more because of the fact that fetches were rotating out and I wouldn't have to get a 100 dollar mana base. But I groan at these now. God another land cycle I have to collect. Sigh, at least these will be easier to get than the onslaught ones now.
Warren Instigator RR
Mythic
Creature - Goblin Berserker
Double Strike
Whenever Warren Instigator deals damage to an opponent, you may put a Goblin creature card from your hand onto the battlefield.
1/1
Go nuts
Woo! I called it. So far this and the enemy fetches and that 3/2 shroud cat this set is looking sweet!
I wouldn't run them strictly because it doesn't push it over the edge like hard casting one of them does. You want that extra turn or the vindicate or the draw four.
I totally agree with you on Gifts it a superior card to realms in being able to go and grab cards that help. But I don't think that Realms should be ignored for it's ability to not only grab pieces of tron but also the two other lands that are going to help this deck out: Eldrazi Temple and Eye of Ugin. With these extra lands the possibility to hard cast a Emrakul goes up. And it also combos well with Life From the Loam. I'm not saying that it should be a four of more like a 1 or 2 of.
hopefully it's something like this:
Rare Candy 0
artifact
sac rare candy: put a level counter on target creature.
4 Root Maze
4 Amulet of Vigor
4 Lotus Bloom
3 Harrow
3 Explore
4 Ponder
4 Path to Exile
2 Iona, Shield of Emeria
4 Mulldrifter
4 Sea Side Citadel
4 Breeding Pool
2 Temple Garden
2 Hallowed Fountain
4 Misty Rainforest
2 Forest
1 Island
1 Plains
This is an idea that I've been tooling around with since I saw Amulet of Vigor. The whole idea is to lock down the game with Root Maze + Amulet of Vigor (which keeps your opponent one step behind you) and set up a turn four Iona, Shield of Emeria. A sideboard hasn't exactly been decided upon because i still feel the deck needs some more work.
Oh wow, your sarcasm is really refreshing. I've never seen that being used on the internet...
Anyways, How about some good ol' Immortal Coil+Luminarch Ascension. As long as you can remove cards from your graveyard you're golden.
lol I'm so glad I have a play set of these. I had no idea!
Scapeshift+Emeria Angel
4 Putrid Leech
4 Scythe Tiger
4 Birds of Paradise
4 Vampire Lacerator
4 Guul Draz Vampire
4 Elvish Visionary
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Terramorphic Expanse
5 Forest
3 Swamp
4 Giant Growth
4 Bloodchief Ascension
4 Quest for the Gemblades
4 Bone Splinters
This is just a rough idea of coarse but it could end up working.
Fetchlands were one of the things that kept me out of playing extended for the longest time. I was excited to be able to play in extended more because of the fact that fetches were rotating out and I wouldn't have to get a 100 dollar mana base. But I groan at these now. God another land cycle I have to collect. Sigh, at least these will be easier to get than the onslaught ones now.
Woo! I called it. So far this and the enemy fetches and that 3/2 shroud cat this set is looking sweet!