Origins was an awesome draft format, so I have high hopes for this one.
Also: I am shocked noone is talking about them printing (uncommon) Man-o'-war with a relevant creature type. Exclusion Mage should be big news. Blue will be a powerhouse. Yes, I see you can't target your own stuff, but that's fringe.
This card is so good, what are you talking about? I bet you misread it as prevent 1 damage, as pretty much everyone seems to do. I will firstpick this most definitively.
This is very counter intuitive for me. Imagine a creature with flanking 2. Now you cast a spell that gives it flanking 1. Without reading reminder text I have no idea they stack, indeed I would imagine they wouldn't since there is no effect giving it flanking 3.
I would word it
"Enchanted creature gets +1 flanking". However this is harder to make work with the rules and uses a templating usually reserved for power and toughness. However since power and toughness changing always refers to both values, I'd argue the visual cues are different enough.
I never gave you permission to quote me in your signature.
Neither did you give me permission to quote you and look where that got you.
Eh should really really comment on-topic:
I feel like the Hedron Network art represents Ulamog well. He isn't the centerpiece, but it looks epic.
This is Gatherer which is the official search by Wizards. I much prefer Magiccards.info though. This search should show all unconditional counterspells.
As for your problem with Counterspell, that is exactly the equivalent to Negate without restriction. there has not been a nontargeting counter to my knowledge. Mainly because it would be useless since even abilities which prevent a permanent from being targeted are not in effect while it is still a spell.
Counterspell targets the spell. The spell being countered does not need to be targeting anything. Counterspell does what you want.
Or no Walking Ballista.
I demand Whimsy!
Also: I am shocked noone is talking about them printing (uncommon) Man-o'-war with a relevant creature type. Exclusion Mage should be big news. Blue will be a powerhouse. Yes, I see you can't target your own stuff, but that's fringe.
I would word it
"Enchanted creature gets +1 flanking". However this is harder to make work with the rules and uses a templating usually reserved for power and toughness. However since power and toughness changing always refers to both values, I'd argue the visual cues are different enough.
Neither did you give me permission to quote you and look where that got you.
Eh should really really comment on-topic:
I feel like the Hedron Network art represents Ulamog well. He isn't the centerpiece, but it looks epic.
That wasn't on your bucket list?
As for your problem with Counterspell, that is exactly the equivalent to Negate without restriction. there has not been a nontargeting counter to my knowledge. Mainly because it would be useless since even abilities which prevent a permanent from being targeted are not in effect while it is still a spell.
Counterspell targets the spell. The spell being countered does not need to be targeting anything. Counterspell does what you want.