This is the case, and it's a fairly simple economic principle... it's also why I laugh Every. Single. Standard season when I see the following thread:
"<Standard x> is too expensive because of card N, I'd play it otherwise".
The funny part is that if you remove the cost from Card N, the cost would just shift, but would remain the same overall. It's not a specific card that creates the cost it's the demand for the cards that win that creates the cost. If you remove one card that wins and is expensive that demand will just flow downwards to the next card that helps people win, and the cost to play standard remains the same.
This.
People should say, "I can't afford to play standard because it is too popular." You could adjust the cost by changing the price of boosters, but then you would be messing with a free market, which is generally not helpful. If you want to play standard, go to college. If only there was a 4 year degree in Magic.
EDIT: By the way, Wizards, shame on you for printing tournament quality 4-of mythics. Just... shameful... Don't say one thing then do another. It is just not good business.
Nothing is really safe in the current format. The stuff that is safe is the few finishers of a control deck, which isn't going to waste cards to make their one creature slightly bigger.
Eh? There's like 20 better bargains in this set alone...
Meh. It will only occasionally be a waste of cards, it will usually just play as a sub-60 card deck. Fact is 6 mana for a 7/8 unblockable lifelinker is really good. The meta will determine if it gets played as it does with anything, but that is a very efficient creature.
Not that we needed any more juiciness from Alara Reborn, but I think one card that got lost in the mix was Sovereigns of Lost Alara. Here's why.
The first thing you think of when you read Sovereign's rules text, "Whenever a creature you control attacks alone..." you immediately try to think of what creature you might have have in play to best abuse the ability. Uril was a commonly mentioned go-to guy in the rumor mill. But that cheapens with gimmicks what this card really is. Let's take a closer look.
The creature is 6 mana for a 4/5 with exalted, and it's fat butt can help it stick around long enough for it to really shine. If you manage to swing with the Sovereigns of Lost Alara and rummage through your deck for a copy of Steel of the Godhead to stick to it for free, now that unimpressive creature just became a 7/8 lifelinking unblockable monster. Those stats cost just 6 mana. And it doesn't require you to dilute your deck with a playset of Steel of the Godhead, just 1 or 2 will do just fine.
So yeah, it could get pathed and terminated and terrored and probably even death capsuled (lol), but if you wait to put it down until you know it is safe, it might just be one of the best bargains in Magic. And that Uril buff is really just a side benefit.
Okay, you may all resume talking about Bloodbraid Elf now, I'm done.
It has to be different, since land's don't have a mana cost either, which means they wouldn't have stipulated that it's necessary to find a non-land, except (possibly?) for atheistic reasons... I believe that it uses the converted mana cost, since there is no other way of comparing spells costs except to use the converted mana cost.
However, we will not know for sure until the official oracle text is published. I checked Gottlieb's oracle update, and found that he didn't publish what Cascade's rule actually is. If you want to see, the article can be found at http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/35b&page=5 I haven't seen any other places where it would'be been published either.
So as of right now, we just don't know for certain. There are good reasons to lean either way, but we don't know.
atheistic reasons made me laugh. Maybe we should take a more agnostic approach. Perhaps "costs less" includes all possibilities that do not fall under the categories "costs the same," or "costs more," which would imply that a spell with no cost does indeed cost less and may be played.
And for the record, cascade is good if you fill your deck with good cards, so why wouldn't it be played in Standard? There are cards that no matter what you cascade into will become very efficient effects for a reasonable cost. It is a bit chaotic but not completely random, as it were.
The original post of this thread was made when just about 2/3 of the set was spoiled. It is interesting that the poll results haven't really changed more than a couple percentage points for any category since the first 20 or so people voted. Even after 400 votes the breakdown is the same.
Right now I'm marveling at how good Soul Manipulation really is. Does 5CC really need that Mulldrifter back for yet more card advantage while sending the latest threat to the bin? I also like it combined with artifact antics like Master Transmuter and Time Sieve to turn Parasitic Strix into a blinking death machine.
Also, is it just me or is Necromancer's Covenant just the perfect stabilizing/finishing card for a discard deck? It seems balanced, but still very strong, and is generally a good investment at 6-mana. 6 mana can buy you a Broodmate, and might be anti-synergistic with Path to Exile and Unmake, so I don't think covenant finds its way into a lot of decks, but the possibilities with discard is intriguing.
Urza's Saga block was a design failure. The theme was enchantments.
What they did instead was create several broken artifacts, and a bunch of terrible cards that cared about enchantments.
Saga block had a small collection of broken cards, yes (3-5 per set?), but a large collection of terrible cards as well. It wasn't all Rancors and Deranged Hermits...a fact I was reminded of looking through my cousin's binder, who played mostly during that time and had a binder full of these 'not good' cards.
This set is a very even plane as far as power level goes. Nothing is OMG terrible yet, and nothing is OMG BAN THIS CARD either.
Many of the cards serve as fixers to keep standard in check, like Thought Hemorrhage, MM, the disenchant bear, etc.
This thread is about the set as a whole, not if certain things are broken or not.
Thanks Seds, couldn't have said it better myself, which is why I didn't. I've personally been playing since 1994, and in my very humble opinion, if, and this may be the biggest if if ever there was an if, Wizards keeps spoiling cards of this utility and interesting variety (and likely non-brokenness, please don't let cascade be broken) and continues it into future sets, we may just be entering, pardon the pun, the golden age of Magic. How many cards into a set have to be spoiled before we can say Bravo, Wizards? I don't know, but I'm thinking it already. This collection of cards don't just contain art, they are art.
Buyers beware! I just noticed that the current wording on the spoiled card does not say "until end of turn." However, the +1/+1 ability it grants does not appear to be in counter form, and powerwise the ability doesn't match the cost, so don't run out and overpay for this card!
This public service announcement has been brought to you by me. I've bought cards that were spoiled incorrectly before, and if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
The artifact is built to go infinite, so some people will find a way to love it.
As for the Cascade can't block spell, I think it is interesting that if everything in your deck with CMC 2 or less is a creature with haste, then it makes the card very playable. Cascade is really strong...
I normally kinda hate "nicknames" and think they're super dorky in an ugly way. But these are cute, I could dig it as a dedicated Mario fan that's been down since day one.
Perhaps Esper Stormblade as the Princess what with the aformentioned flying. Bant Sureblade as Toad what with being quicker when holding an item, sort of an implied first strike in a way. Grixis Grimblade as Bowser, what with it being kind of the "bad guy" or sorts.
Back to Alara Reborn, does anyone have a vote for best card so far? I'm having trouble finding cards I don't like. Right now Wargate is looking pretty tasty.
See, now this I've never seen before. Honestly, there's always the one "This is the worst set ever" guy I've honestly never seen a "This is the best set ever!" post. So it's kind of refreshing.
But yeah, I gotta say the set is looking a lil cooler than I thought. I don't know if I'd go as far as saying "Best Set Ever" but I dig it. I too was sorta freaked out a bit by the idea of an all gold set, but it's shaping up to be interesting. I like when you could look over a list and just be flooded with all these different ideas for entirely new decks, as opposed to just thinking like "Oh, that might be cool in 5cc".
Explain to me a bit more what you mean by the "Super Mario" cycle though.
I am a refreshing glass of Lemonade on a hot Summer day. That's right. It's not just my optimistic nature, though, the set is really promising. Mario becomes Super Mario when he combines with a multicolored mushroom and he gets, well, bigger. ARB has 5 2/1 creatures that get +1/+1 and a unique skill when you control a multicolored creature, so it is a pretty good name. Not sure how to tell which one is Mario and which is Luigi, though. I think the Princess could fly. but I digress...
So, we are about 93 cards into the spoiler, and I have to say that from what I've seen, for both constructed opportunities and for a limited expansion, this is easily the best/most fun/ highest potential set I can remember. Here are some observations:
1. Very little vanilla, so far. And I don't mean Grizzly Bears vanilla, I mean as a whole the average card sees a power boost. Don't know if it is strictly a multi-colored effect, economy-based, or lack of 1-drops, but there is a palpable quality improvement in this cardset (so far).
2. I feel compelled to buy a case of this. Now whether I will isn't the point, but I've never felt so compelled to buy Magic as I do right now. I think they are putting Subliminal messages in the rules text.
3. I'm relieved to be wrong about an all-gold set. I thought it was a bad idea, but after seeing the multitude and cross-functional card value for constructed applications, it will be unlikely that we will have a consensus "best deck" for some time to come, and that is good for competitive Magic.
4. I can't wait to Draft this. We are going to have to rethink the way we draft Shards and Conflux because there will now be a premium on multicolor card selections over the first 2 packs, in preparation for the strength of the draft pool, pack 3. Sounds like a high risk, high reward strategy, and I can't wait!
5. 2 CMC 3-power conditional creatures are invading Standard, and I don't know what to think about that. Actually, my first thought is that Kithkin are not fast enough to hang with the new Super Mario cycle. Beyond that, I have more questions than answers. Yes, you heard me. Super Mario.
This action might be "Defending Trademarks 101" but I a few reservations about it. Certainly one can see how WotC needs to protect its livelihood. But it has been through tools like MWS, not MTGO, that players have learned to trust online versions of Magic at all, since Wizards has been less than ideal at producing digital versions of their products. In a way, these alternate programs have kept online Magic afloat while we wait for Wizards to create a product that players actually enjoy and don't just tolerate.
The other issue is in the long delay for the trademark protection. It isn't like these websites just popped up. They have been around for a long time and Wizards have been aware of their existence for a long time, so I think their cease and desist doesn't quite have the teeth that it would if it occured as soon as Wizards actually found out about them. The fact is, the ball was dropped a long time ago, Hasbro just now noticed it, and so they are scrambling to regain control of their product.
I wouldn't be surprised if Hasbro effectively shuts down the sites then makes an effort to acquire them cheaply under legal pressure. That would be the corporate thing to do. I just hope that MTGO gets major improvement quickly to fill the void.
What I like about what you are trying to do is that there are plenty of cards that curve out to support your theme. In addition to the other cards mentioned we have Tukatongue Thallid, and could consider Mutavault and Treetop Village as well.
This.
People should say, "I can't afford to play standard because it is too popular." You could adjust the cost by changing the price of boosters, but then you would be messing with a free market, which is generally not helpful. If you want to play standard, go to college. If only there was a 4 year degree in Magic.
EDIT: By the way, Wizards, shame on you for printing tournament quality 4-of mythics. Just... shameful... Don't say one thing then do another. It is just not good business.
Maelstrom Pulse
Bloodbraid Elf
2 X Bituminous Blast
Magma Spray
2 X Sangrite Backlash
Fleshbag Marauder
Hell's Thunder
and decent filler and manafixing to boot. I pulled a Godsire and couldn't even find room for him or even a second Vengeful Rebirth.
Highlights include Maelstrom Pulse on a board full of tokens generated by Necromancer's Covenant, and I did get owned by Karrthus once.
I think I observed about half Jund-based decks at my tournament, consistent with other reports elsewhere.
I haven't had that much fun at a prerelease, ever. Oh, and I got a second Maelstrom Pulse in my Prize Packs!
Meh. It will only occasionally be a waste of cards, it will usually just play as a sub-60 card deck. Fact is 6 mana for a 7/8 unblockable lifelinker is really good. The meta will determine if it gets played as it does with anything, but that is a very efficient creature.
The first thing you think of when you read Sovereign's rules text, "Whenever a creature you control attacks alone..." you immediately try to think of what creature you might have have in play to best abuse the ability. Uril was a commonly mentioned go-to guy in the rumor mill. But that cheapens with gimmicks what this card really is. Let's take a closer look.
The creature is 6 mana for a 4/5 with exalted, and it's fat butt can help it stick around long enough for it to really shine. If you manage to swing with the Sovereigns of Lost Alara and rummage through your deck for a copy of Steel of the Godhead to stick to it for free, now that unimpressive creature just became a 7/8 lifelinking unblockable monster. Those stats cost just 6 mana. And it doesn't require you to dilute your deck with a playset of Steel of the Godhead, just 1 or 2 will do just fine.
So yeah, it could get pathed and terminated and terrored and probably even death capsuled (lol), but if you wait to put it down until you know it is safe, it might just be one of the best bargains in Magic. And that Uril buff is really just a side benefit.
Okay, you may all resume talking about Bloodbraid Elf now, I'm done.
atheistic reasons made me laugh. Maybe we should take a more agnostic approach. Perhaps "costs less" includes all possibilities that do not fall under the categories "costs the same," or "costs more," which would imply that a spell with no cost does indeed cost less and may be played.
And for the record, cascade is good if you fill your deck with good cards, so why wouldn't it be played in Standard? There are cards that no matter what you cascade into will become very efficient effects for a reasonable cost. It is a bit chaotic but not completely random, as it were.
Right now I'm marveling at how good Soul Manipulation really is. Does 5CC really need that Mulldrifter back for yet more card advantage while sending the latest threat to the bin? I also like it combined with artifact antics like Master Transmuter and Time Sieve to turn Parasitic Strix into a blinking death machine.
Also, is it just me or is Necromancer's Covenant just the perfect stabilizing/finishing card for a discard deck? It seems balanced, but still very strong, and is generally a good investment at 6-mana. 6 mana can buy you a Broodmate, and might be anti-synergistic with Path to Exile and Unmake, so I don't think covenant finds its way into a lot of decks, but the possibilities with discard is intriguing.
Thanks Seds, couldn't have said it better myself, which is why I didn't. I've personally been playing since 1994, and in my very humble opinion, if, and this may be the biggest if if ever there was an if, Wizards keeps spoiling cards of this utility and interesting variety (and likely non-brokenness, please don't let cascade be broken) and continues it into future sets, we may just be entering, pardon the pun, the golden age of Magic. How many cards into a set have to be spoiled before we can say Bravo, Wizards? I don't know, but I'm thinking it already. This collection of cards don't just contain art, they are art.
This public service announcement has been brought to you by me. I've bought cards that were spoiled incorrectly before, and if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
As for the Cascade can't block spell, I think it is interesting that if everything in your deck with CMC 2 or less is a creature with haste, then it makes the card very playable. Cascade is really strong...
I actually come from a race of small furry terminators bent on world domination. We are active politically, you can find out more here:
http://www.inews3.com/topstory.php?id=52687961786561757c546865204675727279
for news of our origin, check out this article:
http://www.slashgear.com/mits-furry-robot-is-capable-of-human-learning-235400/
Back to Alara Reborn, does anyone have a vote for best card so far? I'm having trouble finding cards I don't like. Right now Wargate is looking pretty tasty.
I am a refreshing glass of Lemonade on a hot Summer day. That's right. It's not just my optimistic nature, though, the set is really promising. Mario becomes Super Mario when he combines with a multicolored mushroom and he gets, well, bigger. ARB has 5 2/1 creatures that get +1/+1 and a unique skill when you control a multicolored creature, so it is a pretty good name. Not sure how to tell which one is Mario and which is Luigi, though. I think the Princess could fly. but I digress...
1. Very little vanilla, so far. And I don't mean Grizzly Bears vanilla, I mean as a whole the average card sees a power boost. Don't know if it is strictly a multi-colored effect, economy-based, or lack of 1-drops, but there is a palpable quality improvement in this cardset (so far).
2. I feel compelled to buy a case of this. Now whether I will isn't the point, but I've never felt so compelled to buy Magic as I do right now. I think they are putting Subliminal messages in the rules text.
3. I'm relieved to be wrong about an all-gold set. I thought it was a bad idea, but after seeing the multitude and cross-functional card value for constructed applications, it will be unlikely that we will have a consensus "best deck" for some time to come, and that is good for competitive Magic.
4. I can't wait to Draft this. We are going to have to rethink the way we draft Shards and Conflux because there will now be a premium on multicolor card selections over the first 2 packs, in preparation for the strength of the draft pool, pack 3. Sounds like a high risk, high reward strategy, and I can't wait!
5. 2 CMC 3-power conditional creatures are invading Standard, and I don't know what to think about that. Actually, my first thought is that Kithkin are not fast enough to hang with the new Super Mario cycle. Beyond that, I have more questions than answers. Yes, you heard me. Super Mario.
The other issue is in the long delay for the trademark protection. It isn't like these websites just popped up. They have been around for a long time and Wizards have been aware of their existence for a long time, so I think their cease and desist doesn't quite have the teeth that it would if it occured as soon as Wizards actually found out about them. The fact is, the ball was dropped a long time ago, Hasbro just now noticed it, and so they are scrambling to regain control of their product.
I wouldn't be surprised if Hasbro effectively shuts down the sites then makes an effort to acquire them cheaply under legal pressure. That would be the corporate thing to do. I just hope that MTGO gets major improvement quickly to fill the void.
Glory = 1
Hope = 1
Righteous = 1
Compiling off the top of my head we have:
4 Tukatongue Thallid
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Steward of Valeron
4 Kitchen Finks
3 Thornling
3 Reveillark
3 Garruk Wildspeaker
1 Elspeth, Knight Errant
4 Wrath of God
3 Martial Coup
2 Overrun
Lands
4 Mutavault
4 Wooded Bastion
4 Treetop Village
4 Windbrisk Heights
4 Forest
2 Plains
3 Brushland