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[Amibguous Cad]

I really like this design from the pokeMagic set

It's probably busted in half in its current form, at least for limited, but make it a 2/2 and change its templating (as it's written you can activate it like 5 times before Rapidash dies, and I don't think that was intended; I'd rather see it so that your number of activations is limited to its toughness) and it would be pretty cool.

 

[Haly]

It's probably busted in half in its current form, at least for limited, but make it a 2/2 and change its templating (as it's written you can activate it like 5 times before Rapidash dies, and I don't think that was intended; I'd rather see it so that your number of activations is limited to its toughness) and it would be pretty cool.

Lol.

 

[Amibguous Cad]

Lol.

I'm too taken by the beauty of the design to worry about flavor, you plebian!

 

[Haly]

Would it work if the text read:

R, Ninetails deals 1 damage to itself: Ninetails deals 1 damage to target creature or player and gets +1/+0 until end of turn.

 

[TheSeks]

+1/-1 on 1/3 means it can only be activated three times at most unless Giant Growthed anyway. Where is the five times coming from?

 

[ultron87]

+1/-1 on 1/3 means it can only be activated three times at most unless Giant Growthed anyway. Where is the five times coming from?

If the toughness lost isn't part of the cost you can activate as many times as you have red mana. It won't die till stuff actually starts resolving.

 

[TheSeks]

If the toughness lost isn't part of the cost you can activate as many times as you have red mana. It won't die till stuff actually starts resolving.

Wait, what? You're saying if I have RRRRR and activated the ability five times, the ability would resolve to 5 damage instead of being on stack as "ability, ability, ability, ability, ability"? to where the first three abilities resolve (-3) and then since Ninetails has 0 toughness, it dies and the remaining abilities fizzle because they can't resolve, right? I mean putting it on stack should make those last two not resolve?

 

[Frog]

Wait, what? You're saying if I have RRRRR and activated the ability five times, the ability would resolve to 5 damage instead of being on stack as "ability, ability, ability, ability, ability"? to where the first three abilities resolve (-3) and then since Ninetails has 0 toughness, it dies and the remaining abilities fizzle because they can't resolve, right? I mean putting it on stack should make those last two not resolve?

Five activations results in five instances of the ability on the stack. "Fizzle" refers to a spell or ability being countered due to having no legal targets. As long as the target of the ability is still legal, it will resolve whether or not the source of the ability is still on the battlefield. Even if the source is reduced to 0 toughness and put into the graveyard by the third ability resolving, the remaining two are still on the stack and will resolve normally.

 

[Haly]

Once the abilities are on the stack they don't care if Ninetails is still alive, it's one of the quirks of the stack system.

Effects that care whether or not the source card still exists at time of resolution will specifically mention it.

 

[TheSeks]

I don't get that. :/

Giant Growth on a 1/1 and that 1/1 bounces = Giant Growth doesn't resolve and goes to graveyard. -1 on /3 x 3 is /0 and should go to graveyard despite having two abilities that want to resolve on it.

Wording makes the 1 damage out to where it resolves first, which is stupid.

 

[zethren]

This one?

Seeing this card just now makes me want to make a silly Precursor Golem and Wild Defiance deck...lol

 

[Ravager61]

I don't get that. :/

Giant Growth on a 1/1 and that 1/1 bounces = Giant Growth doesn't resolve and goes to graveyard. -1 on /3 x 3 is /0 and should go to graveyard despite having two abilities that want to resolve on it.

Wording makes the 1 damage out to where it resolves first, which is stupid.

Say giant growth said "Target creature gets +3/+3 and you gain 3 life". If I cast giant growth targeting my creature and you bounce it in response, I would still gain the life even though the target for the +3/+3 isn't there anymore.

You just have to have a valid target at the time the spell is put on the stack, not when it is resolving. So activating the ninetails ability more than 3 times works if you activate it by responding to its own ability.

 

[devenger]

Lord of the Pit Nightmare Sengir Vampire
Wall of Bone Zombie Master Serra Angel
Swords to Plowshares Veteran Bodyguard Wrath of God
Cyclopean Tomb Sol Ring Throne of Bone

Just some black, white, and artifacts I remember not being super common, but I could be wrong. It has been a long time.

Obviously it depends on what edition each one is, so I'll just have to break down and catalogue. (I'm in the middle of doing the same to my comics)

Last question: any good resources or specific things to look for? I don't want to go through the whole mess once, then have to go back through and look for some corner emblem denoting edition.

Thanks guys, guess I'll give ya'll first pick.

edit: no Black Lotus, but I have quite a few dual lands. And I know those are the first version of those cards, because I remember when they were new.

Hey, I used to post under fludevil (when I last posted on this thread). I'm about to start breaking up my cards to sell.

Wandering Wind pointed me to http://magiccards.info/, but I'm wondering where I can determine what edition each card is. I know a bunch are either alpha or beta. Just looking for a resource or guide.

edit: and this looks to be it, found it and thought I'd post it. http://www.abugames.com/Magic_the_Gathering_Edition_Guide.html

 

[Gatekeeper]

Say giant growth said "Target creature gets +3/+3 and you gain 3 life". If I cast giant growth targeting my creature and you bounce it in response, I would still gain the life even though the target for the +3/+3 isn't there anymore.

You just have to have a valid target at the time the spell is put on the stack, not when it is resolving. So activating the ninetails ability more than 3 times works if you activate it by responding to its own ability.

This is incorrect. If a spell or ability's target has been removed or otherwise made untargetable, that ability will not resolve.

608.2b If the spell or ability specifies targets, it checks whether the targets are still legal. A target that’s no longer in the zone it was in when it was targeted is illegal. Other changes to the game state may cause a target to no longer be legal; for example, its characteristics may have changed or an effect may have changed the text of the spell. If the source of an ability has left the zone it was in, its last known information is used during this process. The spell or ability is countered if all its targets, for every instance of the word “target,” are now illegal. If the spell or ability is not countered, it will resolve normally. However, if any of its targets are illegal, the part of the spell or ability’s effect for which it is an illegal target can’t perform any actions on that target or make that target perform any actions. The effect may still determine information about illegal targets, though, and other parts of the effect for which those targets are not illegal may still
affect them.
Example: Sorin’s Thirst is a black instant that reads, “Sorin’s Thirst deals 2 damage to
target creature and you gain 2 life.” If the creature isn’t a legal target during the
resolution of Sorin’s Thirst (say, if the creature has gained protection from black or left
the battlefield), then Sorin’s Thirst is countered. Its controller doesn’t gain any life.

 

[echoshifting]

Ditto. Gonna draft the shit our of AVR tomorrow. Although, I haven't heard great things about AVR as a draft format. Waiting to form my own opinion.

I actually think AVR draft is underrated. Black sucks but all of the other colors are fine.

I think just about everyone knows black sucks, too, so it creates interesting opportunities for one or two brave souls at the table.

 

[Ravager61]

This is incorrect. If a spell or ability's target has been removed or otherwise made untargetable, that ability will not resolve.

608.2b If the spell or ability specifies targets, it checks whether the targets are still legal. A target that’s no longer in the zone it was in when it was targeted is illegal. Other changes to the game state may cause a target to no longer be legal; for example, its characteristics may have changed or an effect may have changed the text of the spell. If the source of an ability has left the zone it was in, its last known information is used during this process. The spell or ability is countered if all its targets, for every instance of the word “target,” are now illegal. If the spell or ability is not countered, it will resolve normally. However, if any of its targets are illegal, the part of the spell or ability’s effect for which it is an illegal target can’t perform any actions on that target or make that target perform any actions. The effect may still determine information about illegal targets, though, and other parts of the effect for which those targets are not illegal may still
affect them.
Example: Sorin’s Thirst is a black instant that reads, “Sorin’s Thirst deals 2 damage to
target creature and you gain 2 life.” If the creature isn’t a legal target during the
resolution of Sorin’s Thirst (say, if the creature has gained protection from black or left
the battlefield), then Sorin’s Thirst is countered. Its controller doesn’t gain any life.

Oops. Disregard my other post then.

 

[dr3upmushroom]

Magic can be stupidly complex at times with all the obscure/ unclear rules. I remember getting super pissed in junior high when I spent a few weeks allowance making a Phantoms deck and everyone I played with said that they lost their invulnerability once they were out of +1/+1 counters. The deck was pretty shitty, even if I was able to play it I probably would have just ended up with a handful of semi-invincible creatures and no way to win, but it was really annoying.

 

[Leunam]

Went to my first FNM last night with a deck almost identical to this. Only difference is fewer dual lands and a couple of more creatures. Went 2-2 and got some compliments on the deck. Had a good time. Musky, but a good time.

 

[The Technomancer]

In a multiplayer Commander game tonight I dropped a Prototype Portal with a Lodestone Golem imprinted, my friend playing a G/W elf deck just looks over and says "dude, fuck you"

 

[divisionbyzorro]

First time playing AVR online right now. Not a great sealed draw, but whatever - I'll roll with it. I did get a Cavern and a Silverblade Paladin (nothing else great though).

Game 1: I see three lands. Game 2: I see 12 lands.

C'est la vie. Hopefully the next few matches aren't so terrible.

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

Went to my first FNM last night with a deck almost identical to this. Only difference is fewer dual lands and a couple of more creatures. Went 2-2 and got some compliments on the deck. Had a good time. Musky, but a good time.

Speaking of Tezz, I made a new deck for FNM and went 2-2 but they were just bad match ups. One was the wild defiance deck and the other was a culling dias deck. After play testing most of today I switched it and I like this new incarnation better and will be playing it at the game day tomorrow so I'll report the results.

Creatures
2x Phyrexian Metamorph
2x Solemn Simulacrum
2x Wurmcoil Engine

Artifacts
1x Spine of Ish Sah
4x Sphere of the Suns
3x Ratchet Bomb
2x Nihil Spellbomb
1x Batterskull

Spells/Enchantments
4x Ponder
1x Go for the Throat
1x Doom Blade
2x Geth's Verdict
2x Tragic Slip
2x Black Sun's Zenith
2x Curse of Death's Hold
2x Mana Leak (Thinking of just switching this to Negate, I don't care about countering creatures)
2x Curse of Death's Hold

Planeswalkers
4x Tezzeret Agent of Bolas

Land
4x Buried Ruin
2x Phyrexia's Core
4x Drowned Catacomb
4x Darkslick Shores
6x Swamp
3x Island

Sideboard
2x Sever the bloodline
1x Mimic Vat
2x Hex Parasite
2x Flashfreeze
1x Despise
1x Curse of Death's Hold
1x Liliana of the Veil
1x Surgical Extraction (Might trade for something else like another despise due to all the graveyard hate already)
2x Torpor's Orb
1x Geth's Verdict


Has been amazing even when not side boarding thus far play testing like 6 different decks. I originally had 3 phyrexian Crusaders main board for aggro/humans hate but it seems less versatile so I think it may be better not in the deck even though it destroyed the R/W humans I played last night.

 

[Leunam]

2x Mana Leak (Thinking of just switching this to Negate, I don't care about countering creatures)

Why not Stoic Rebuttal? Hard counter that will likely be cheaper with all those artifacts.

I like the list, by the way.

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

Why not Stoic Rebuttal? Hard counter that will likely be cheaper with all those artifacts.

Because you do need the artifacts which makes it less worthwhile. Too many times especially early game I won't have them down and 3 feels way too expensive. I have too much creature removal, only certain artifacts mess me up and planes walkers definitely do if I don't have a creature out.

 

[Leunam]

I removed one Mana Leak in my list and replaced it with a Stoic Rebuttal and it really helps in late game where they may have enough mana to work around Leak. Given that I have several artifacts out generally I may replace them all.

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

I removed one Mana Leak in my list and replaced it with a Stoic Rebuttal and it really helps in late game where they may have enough mana to work around Leak. Given that I have several artifacts out generally I may replace them all.

Ya, like I said I see the argument but I feel I need it early game if ever since mine is very heavy control and I'll be in control if they play a planeswalker/whatever late game and with all the creature removal I honestly don't mind a single creature someone can play especially with the geth's verdict and 2 black suns so I know I get stomped by planes walkers and planes walkers late game are hard to mana leak so I think negate may be the way to go.

Edit: Also, I have a lot less blue sources than black so only needing one black opens up things a lot more.

 

[divisionbyzorro]

Match two is off to a promising start. I got the combo of Zealous Conscripts + Emancipation Angel. Tee hee.

EDIT: Dammit. Lost the next two games. Now I have to win out to get any prizes.

I'm starting to figure out why people hate AVR limited. With so little removal (basically none), the guys who pulled good soulbond creatures are almost always going to win because of the incredible value they bring. I've lost both matches so far to green soulbond, and the only game I won was because I could disrupt with Zealous Conscripts.

Spoiler

Yes I'm bitching

EDIT2: Oh hey, I was graced with the bye from the guy who quit the tournament early. So now if I win match four, I can salvage something from this.

EDIT3: And let's mull to 5 to start match 4 just to get more than one mismatched land. FML.

EDIT4: Okay, I won match 4 (unsurprisingly, I didn't win the mull-to-5 game). So that's 2-2, earning me 3 packs, plus 7 tix for selling the Cavern of Souls. Let's go draft!

 

[ThLunarian]

Magic can be stupidly complex at times with all the obscure/ unclear rules. I remember getting super pissed in junior high when I spent a few weeks allowance making a Phantoms deck and everyone I played with said that they lost their invulnerability once they were out of +1/+1 counters. The deck was pretty shitty, even if I was able to play it I probably would have just ended up with a handful of semi-invincible creatures and no way to win, but it was really annoying.

Sorry dude, your friends cheated you. If you found a way to pump your phantom creatures independent of +1/+1 counters (like with Glorious Anthem or something), then all damage would be prevented to them, period.

 

[divisionbyzorro]

I remember when I wrote off Thatcher Revolt as a useless card during spoiler season.

I was so wrong. That thing is a ridiculous combo piece.

That's two matches won so far in this draft with this ridiculous R/W deck. Three Thatcher Revolts, two Vigilante Justice, a Goldnight Commander, and a Kessig Malcontents.

 

[dr3upmushroom]

Sorry dude, your friends cheated you. If you found a way to pump your phantom creatures independent of +1/+1 counters (like with Glorious Anthem or something), then all damage would be prevented to them, period.

Yeah, I know, I checked on the official website before I made the deck. Back before the prevalence of smart phones and tablets and whatnot though there wasn't really any way I could prove it. I didn't have a computer at my house at the time, so I couldn't print the page out, and no one else cared enough to check it out on their own. The sort of alpha nerd of our group really like using burn decks, so he was extremely against the idea of me having a deck of burn-proof creatures.

It's stupid looking back, but I was pissed at the time.

 

[BlewHedgehog]

Had a conversation with a couple guys at the local shop today that inspired this. What are everybody's favorite creatures? Here are mine:

#1

This dude is dope. For the longest time, he was the best EDH general available in my favorite color combo and he's still the ultimate group hug card. Unlike his Questing cousin, there's no "may" in his trample ability, which makes for a lot of good interactions with some of my other faves, Oath of Druids and Defense of the Heart. <3 Phelddagrif, you're the best.

#2

This is one of my favorite options for the aforementioned Defense of the Heart. Searching out this guy in conjunction with Silent Arbiter is probably my favorite combo that I've ever concocted by myself. Give my opponent a hippo for every G available to me, attack with a ridiculous amount of War Pride copies, and let them block just one. One of the most unique abilities ever printed.

#3

I started playing when Visions was the newest release, and this guy was the one I dreamed of opening. Wizards has taken some impressive steps in making the rare elements of the lore perceptible to people who only buy a few packs (the Wurmcoil lifelinker and deathtoucher tokens, or planeswalker emblems for instance). Every week, when I would open the pack or two of Mirage that allowance would afford me I'd find an Urborg Panther waiting for me. And I'd have copies of Feral Shadow and Breathstealer too. I had no idea what this Spirit of the Night was, but it was mysterious. And I wanted it. Of course, now I know that the creature himself is pretty terrible, especially if you're running those other three garbage critters to get him into play. He felt hella cool then though, especially when I finally opened one and saw that nightmare inducing artwork.

#4

This guy is the reason I'm playing MtG right now. Never before has the creative team married mechanics and flavor together so beautifully. This could have been printed as a textless spell exclusively and people would still know exactly what it does, just based on the illustration alone. And you mean it's insanely good too?! I can play the best designed flavor card in years and not get laughed out of the tourney like I did for playing Questing Phelddagrif? One of my dreams is to someday have this guy attacking with Greater Good in play. *sigh*

I suppose if Storm Herd counted as a creature, it could fit here at #5. Since it doesn't though, I'll just go with anything by Terese Nielsen for having the best art.

So... what do you guys say. Any favorites you'd like to share?

 

[divisionbyzorro]

I love Elves.

 

[Haly]

My favorite card when I was younger, mostly because I identified with GWU and I loved her design. Now that I understand magic better her ability is depressingly awful, compared to those of her siblings like Rith or Dromar.

I liked it so much my internet handle was treva for a few years.

 

[BlewHedgehog]

... I identified with GWU

*fist bump*

Ashamed that I forgot to mention Rith somewhere in my list. I used to have a foil copy that a friend altered so that he was lumbering through a snow storm wearing a Santa hat, ya know, bringing joy to all the children like he does. I would pay more than I'm worth to get that back. He's also the reason Brain Kibler is my favorite pro.

Treva definitely got shafted in the power department, but I'd still rather play her over that arsehole Dromar.

 

[Haly]

R/B is definitely my least liked color combo, with G/U being my favorite.

 

[narcosis219]

Opponent has 5 counters on Venser.

I play Zealous Conscripts. Steal Venser. Use his +2.

"Oh, thanks for the counters bro"

"no problem!"

Next turn he uses +2 and Venser is at +9.

My turn, I use cloudshift on Zealous Conscripts. Steal Venser. Use his -8.

"Thanks for the emblem bro"

 

[divisionbyzorro]

Casting Thatcher Revolt with 2 Vigilante Justice on the board:

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

Can you try to mana leak something twice to counter it? For example my opponent plays lightning bolt, I play mana leak and they pay the 3 can I cast mana leak again in an attempt to counter that lightning bolt?

 

[f0rk]

Can you try to mana leak something twice to counter it? For example my opponent plays lightning bolt, I play mana leak and they pay the 3 can I cast mana leak again in an attempt to counter that lightning bolt?

Yes. When the first leak resolves if they pay 3 you get priority again to cast a second one.

 

[echoshifting]

I am going to be so sick of Thatcher Revolt by the time AVR rotates out ;p

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

Yes. When the first leak resolves if they pay 3 you get priority again to cast a second one.

Ok, thought so but just wanted to check.

 

[The Technomancer]

Favorite creatures, huh? Hmm, first place probably goes to:

I have loved this guy ever since I started running him in my casual Modern Saprolings deck a few years ago in conjunction with Doubling Season

Other guys include:

Hmmm...are you noticing a trend here?

 

[siddx]

As I expected, everyone just played the same human decks they played last week and had no way of handling aggro tempered steel. I was expecting at least some players to change it up in response to the absurd amount of human decks, but I'm glad they didn't. Went undefeated and I'm pretty sure I would have taken first if we hadn't all drawn in at top four and split the box. But some dipshit was slowplaying the entire time, dragging every match to the time limit and making it midnight by the time we got to top four.

 

[WanderingWind]

So, these are the decks I rocked at the GP. I played the casuals (aka the people who were too late to officially register). Honestly, I am kicking myself for not going official. I think I had a pretty decent shot at winning some.

This deck won every single game. People are very fond of either control decks or straight aggro. Delver can give it a couple of problems, but I beat 2 of them fairly easily.


This is my first take on a 3 color deck. It lost once, against a re-animator deck.

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

I went 3-1 with my Tezz deck at game day today. I only lost to the culling dias deck but I misplayed and should have won it, I was stuck at 1 land less than spine locking him and I misplayed otherwise I think I would have won. I lost the first but I think my sideboard was definitely good enough to beat him. I only lost after my misplay by him top decking a mirran crusader and using act of treason on it to give haste.

 

[TheSeks]

So, I have a Magic: the Gathering: Online account now.

What the hell do I do with it? :lol I'm so completely lost on what they gave me and what I should do to play casually/cheaply.

I mean, I open the starter pack, obviously. But do I open the boosters? Keep them sealed?

 

[Sinatar]

I mean, I open the starter pack, obviously. But do I open the boosters? Keep them sealed?

You can use them to cover some drafting costs if you want to do that, or you can sell them to bots for tickets and turn those tickets into cards.

 

[joeygreco1985]

Where do you guys recommend purchasing individual cards? I want to buy a few Oblivion Ring sets and am unsure of where to look

 

[narcosis219]

Where do you guys recommend purchasing individual cards? I want to buy a few Oblivion Ring sets and am unsure of where to look

channelfireball.com
starcitygames.com
trollandtoad.com

your local gameshop.

 

[divisionbyzorro]

I mean, I open the starter pack, obviously. But do I open the boosters? Keep them sealed?

Sell the boosters for tickets to a trade bot (MTGOTradersBot, MTGOTradersBot2 are the ones I use). Then buy cards either from a bot or an online retailer using the tickets.

The PennyBot is an interesting bot to look at for buying cards; everything on it is only a penny (1/100 of a ticket). Of course, it's got nothing but super common cards, but if you're starting with nothing, it can help build up some staples quickly (I got a playset of llanowar elves, shocks, rampant growths, barter in blood, doom blade, etc from there).

 

[BlewHedgehog]

Where do you guys recommend purchasing individual cards? I want to buy a few Oblivion Ring sets and am unsure of where to look

Haven't shopped around much, but I have been buying my stuff from coolstuffinc.com and have never had any complaints. It's probably a common practice, but they give discounts based on your lifetime spending. I get 10% off all my singles there now, so it would take something really enticing to get me to buy anywhere else online.