I think Coalition Relic is strictly better than Chromatic Lantern in this build. I know you're putting the Lantern in there in case you want to activate off-color abilities, but the frequency at which that happens will be low enough that the additional tempo provided by Coalition Relic is going to prove more useful than the "Your lands tap for any color mana" of the Lantern.
EDIT: Nevermind, now I see that you like to keep your mana up for second main phase. I still like the Relic better than the Lantern here, but I can see how you'd go either way.
I would get non-foil Kolaghan's Command right now. That card has nowhere to go but up.
Ok, filled out my playset on the advice in this thread. Found some for $12 a pop, which wasn't too bad. Here's hoping BBE gets unbanned and my Jund deck can once again reign supreme.
And honestly, standards a bit more boring deck building wise if all pairs are symmetric all the time. Granted the battlelands will show up next block most likely, but until whatever goes on instead of normal rotation, I'd say its preferable to have enemy and ally cycles split between different types of lands than to give every color combination access to identical mana bases
For one, I think that if they don't print them in OGW, they are not gonna print them in the next block, they'll probably wait a couple of blocks like they have done with other 10 land cycles, the problem I see with this, is this, now you have one half the battle lands with an expedition version and one without, which is not desirable, SOI will probably bring back the checklands (either ally or enemy colors), as they have good synergy with battle lands, but that's just my opinion.
One thing that really sucks if they don't print the other half of this cycle in the Battle for Zendikar block is that the "Battle Lands" nomenclature is going to get even more confusing than it already is. I am already dissatisfied with the way the proposed name does little to describe the land cycle other than referencing the block in which the lands appear. If they were to print the rest of them outside this block, then the "Battle Lands" name just really wouldn't work at all. Maybe that's just me, but my brain would just hate the lack of symmetry if they went this route.
I actually want to run Thief of Blood in my deck. I don't see it as something I'd go to on the regular, but rather a toolbox option. Perhaps I'm facing down a large +1/+1 counter deck, or Planeswalker deck. He snatches away everything my opponents have worked for. This little guy may snatch all my own counters, but if I sac him to one of our many outlets prior to swinging then I'd get all my counters back when I swing at the throne. Also, Unspeakable Symbol gives us back our counters, as does some of our other creature sac outlets. Thief of Blood Isn't a card I would look to play every game, just like Aura Thief and Feldon of the Third Path.
I would say that that's not a good idea. I don't know whether he will see play in other decks or not. Some say no, some say yes, only time will really tell. One thing I know for certain though is that clone effects, bribery effects, and reanimate effects are extremely popular and will always see play. If you put this guy in your deck or play him you are literally giving your opponents the perfect answer to your deck. Oh did marchesa just become threatening? Bam, Phyrexian Metamorph/Reanimate/whatever, say good bye to all your progress.
If he becomes a utility piece that people use that will be really unfortunate as I definitely do not want to see my opponents with this guy. I still think his casting cost is too high for that but EDH is pretty unpredictable. However I know I will not be putting him in my deck regardless as I have no intention of helping my opponents kill me.
I can say without a shadow of a doubt that at least a few players in my playgroup will slot this into their decks. Purely due to the fact that Merchesa is such a dominant force in our playgroup and we have Ghave, Animar, and Dromoka, the Eternal decks circulating around as well. In fact, though I'm sad to see this printed, I'll still likely run it in my Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief Vamps tribal deck. I already run Dark Depths there so it only makes sense.
It's almost definitely going into my new Omnath deck. At 5 mana though, I'm not sure what it will actually replace. I wanna say Where Ancients Tread, but then this is just so good with that card, doubt it's worth swapping one out for the other instead of running them side by side.
Interesting and its fair at 6, a better Desertion.
Not necessarily better. Just different. Since this isn't actually a counterspell, it can't do anything about board wipes of big effects that you want to keep off the board in general. Since Desertion counters the spell, you get a little more flexibility in some. Still, this spell is cool and I will likely try to run it alongside Desertion.
+1 Treasonous Ogre
Just love this card and particularly well suited to EDH where you always have something half decent to do with the mana sitting in the command zone.
I'll try to post my Zedruu list when I get home. I've been pretty happy with it, and my friends absolutely hate it, which I think is a good sign. I actually can't play it too much because I don't want everyone getting all mad at me.
This deck takes a few games to get used to, but the primary objectives are to find a way to produce red mana and set up a draw engine. Generally, this means you need to know what to use Imperial Recruiter, Goblin Matron, and Goblin Recruiter for. These are my normal targets:
Imperial Recruiter:
Treasonous Ogre - Red mana, generally my first target. Usually win the turn after he resolves if not immediately.
Goblin Matron - If I want to get Krenko, the only Goblin I cannot find through him
Skirk Prospector - If I have a Skullclamp plus anthem and want both draw power and a sacrifice outlet
Kiki-Jiki - If I have Zealous Conscripts to win the game immediately, or if I want to double up on Krenko activations for some reason. Also just generally good as a draw engine (cloning Imperial Recruiter).
Gempalm Incinerator - Very rare, but sometimes I cannot win on the spot and need to blow up a minion
Goblin Chieftain/Goblin Warchief - If I am winning this turn through combat/Krenko
Goblin Recruiter - When I need several goblins at once, and am not winning this turn
Soulbright Flamekin - If I can generate a lot of colorless mana and need to make red mana to win, especially if I am low life or if Treasonous Ogre is dead
Just a quick note: Kiki-Jiki cannot copy Krenko, as he can only do non-legendary creatures.
Besides that, the list looks interesting, but I am wondering why run Zada or the cantrips at all, when it sounds like you are winning far more often through more traditional red EDH strategies (ie: Krenko; Kiki-Jiki; Goblins). That's my biggest worry about this card. Lists look cute for EDH, but seem like they are just less consistent than if you ran Krenko/Kiki-Jiki/Purphoros as your general in the first place. You say it is the most consistent mono-red general you've run, though, so what other decks are you comparing it to?
Well if you have other colorless creatures, it can stay on the field. I guess that is the reason for the bump in rarity?
Is that even really a good thing, though? Isn't Dash just superior to this in almost every way because you get to dictate whether or not it sticks around?
This set is so odd. I have not really seen much where I can definitively understand where you'd want to play it. It's not even like most other sets these days, where you could say "It's good in EDH," because not a whole lot of these cards even are.
In a set filled with spawns that you have to sacrifice to get mana, I dont think Smothering Abomination is worth it if you for instance build a deck with a lot of spawns that you can sacrifice to draw a card. Often I would much rather use the spawns to ramp up some mana for bigger spells
I think the idea is that you get an added bonus when saccing the Spawns to ramp, as you will still trigger the card draw that way with this guy on the board. If you are making more than one Spawn a turn, then this card seems like it could generate superlative card advantage while still allowing you to ramp.
Zada is the most Johnny-tastic card we've seen so far. I can see this combining with Monastery Mentor and going nuts.
As someone pointed out, the copies of the spell aren't cast and therefore don't trigger prowess or Mentor's ability. He still combos well with Mentor simply because you'll want more bodies on the board and will naturally be running lots of noncreature spells, but he can't really go nuts exactly.
Now, if Wizards sees fit to print a pump spell that also spits out an Eldrazi Spawn, then I think we are in business.
You are so awesome for posting this. Was gonna buy a set off a friend of a friend for $200, but saw this and made it onto the Hasbro site in time to snag one for MSRP. Thanks for the heads up!
People complaining that Wizards didn't put a Benjamin in a box and then that stores didn't sell all the value it did include for an MSRP of $39.95. What else is new?
This is a fantastic FTV. Did they put in everything I'd hoped for? No and that's fine. If you can pick this up for 65$ or less you're getting a solid deal for this set.
Other than not including Linvala, Angel of Despair, or any of the Avacyn trio (Bruna, Sigarda, Gisela) they hit all the most important ones.
When people complain about this set I want to shake them and ask them what is wrong with them. Did they not see FTV annihilation in all of its awfulness? This for me is the best FTV since Realms.
Started buying the FtV series a few years back with Realms, and I have to agree. This is the best product in this line that Wizards has released in years. I have been happy enough with some of the products (Legends, Twenty) and disappointed with others (Annihilation), but I haven't been as excited to get my hands on one of these as I am for this Angels one (and I am not even a fan of the tribe; white's my least favorite color). Hell, I pre-ordered two since I managed to find one at MSRP and one only slightly above. I get that not every set can be worth it for every player, but overall I think they totally nailed it with this one. People were expecting way more jank than we got, and the fact that there are still good angels worthy of reprints merely speaks to the strength of the tribe and not what should have been in this product.
EDIT: Nevermind, now I see that you like to keep your mana up for second main phase. I still like the Relic better than the Lantern here, but I can see how you'd go either way.
Ok, filled out my playset on the advice in this thread. Found some for $12 a pop, which wasn't too bad. Here's hoping BBE gets unbanned and my Jund deck can once again reign supreme.
One thing that really sucks if they don't print the other half of this cycle in the Battle for Zendikar block is that the "Battle Lands" nomenclature is going to get even more confusing than it already is. I am already dissatisfied with the way the proposed name does little to describe the land cycle other than referencing the block in which the lands appear. If they were to print the rest of them outside this block, then the "Battle Lands" name just really wouldn't work at all. Maybe that's just me, but my brain would just hate the lack of symmetry if they went this route.
I can say without a shadow of a doubt that at least a few players in my playgroup will slot this into their decks. Purely due to the fact that Merchesa is such a dominant force in our playgroup and we have Ghave, Animar, and Dromoka, the Eternal decks circulating around as well. In fact, though I'm sad to see this printed, I'll still likely run it in my Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief Vamps tribal deck. I already run Dark Depths there so it only makes sense.
It's almost definitely going into my new Omnath deck. At 5 mana though, I'm not sure what it will actually replace. I wanna say Where Ancients Tread, but then this is just so good with that card, doubt it's worth swapping one out for the other instead of running them side by side.
Not necessarily better. Just different. Since this isn't actually a counterspell, it can't do anything about board wipes of big effects that you want to keep off the board in general. Since Desertion counters the spell, you get a little more flexibility in some. Still, this spell is cool and I will likely try to run it alongside Desertion.
Sorry, yes. Actual vote.
Just a quick note: Kiki-Jiki cannot copy Krenko, as he can only do non-legendary creatures.
Besides that, the list looks interesting, but I am wondering why run Zada or the cantrips at all, when it sounds like you are winning far more often through more traditional red EDH strategies (ie: Krenko; Kiki-Jiki; Goblins). That's my biggest worry about this card. Lists look cute for EDH, but seem like they are just less consistent than if you ran Krenko/Kiki-Jiki/Purphoros as your general in the first place. You say it is the most consistent mono-red general you've run, though, so what other decks are you comparing it to?
Is that even really a good thing, though? Isn't Dash just superior to this in almost every way because you get to dictate whether or not it sticks around?
This set is so odd. I have not really seen much where I can definitively understand where you'd want to play it. It's not even like most other sets these days, where you could say "It's good in EDH," because not a whole lot of these cards even are.
I think the idea is that you get an added bonus when saccing the Spawns to ramp, as you will still trigger the card draw that way with this guy on the board. If you are making more than one Spawn a turn, then this card seems like it could generate superlative card advantage while still allowing you to ramp.
As someone pointed out, the copies of the spell aren't cast and therefore don't trigger prowess or Mentor's ability. He still combos well with Mentor simply because you'll want more bodies on the board and will naturally be running lots of noncreature spells, but he can't really go nuts exactly.
Now, if Wizards sees fit to print a pump spell that also spits out an Eldrazi Spawn, then I think we are in business.
You are so awesome for posting this. Was gonna buy a set off a friend of a friend for $200, but saw this and made it onto the Hasbro site in time to snag one for MSRP. Thanks for the heads up!
Started buying the FtV series a few years back with Realms, and I have to agree. This is the best product in this line that Wizards has released in years. I have been happy enough with some of the products (Legends, Twenty) and disappointed with others (Annihilation), but I haven't been as excited to get my hands on one of these as I am for this Angels one (and I am not even a fan of the tribe; white's my least favorite color). Hell, I pre-ordered two since I managed to find one at MSRP and one only slightly above. I get that not every set can be worth it for every player, but overall I think they totally nailed it with this one. People were expecting way more jank than we got, and the fact that there are still good angels worthy of reprints merely speaks to the strength of the tribe and not what should have been in this product.