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Magic: The Gathering |OT|
- Thread starter The Technomancer
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The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
How many OG Ravnica mechanics were considered "good" in constructed? Dredge obviously.
They were "fun".
True, I guess.
My other gripe about populate, other than the lack of decent populate cards, is that it is a mechanic which requires a deck built around it. Scavenge, Detain, Unleash and Overload all work by themselves. Populate, alone, needs worthwhile targets, which puts you in certain colors and shapes your deck.
I'd have been happy if it just made Saprolings.
Even in standard there are plenty of token generators, as well as stuff like Intangible Virtue to help them out.
For me, the real issue with populate (and Unleash) is that they don't have integers. Both mechanics would have a lot more design space if they did "Unleash 3" or "Populate 2."
For me, the real issue with populate (and Unleash) is that they don't have integers. Both mechanics would have a lot more design space if they did "Unleash 3" or "Populate 2."
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
Well, I'm asking honestly. Dredge I know, I'm assuming some decks at least ran some cards with Replicate and Transmute, was there anything else?
There were a few Bloodthirst guys that got played in Zoo, and there were some singletons that were playable- Orhzov Pontiff (Haunt), Chord of Calling (Convoke) and Proclamation of Rebirth (Forecast), but yeah, the mechanics, outside of dredge, were almost universally unplayable.
divisionbyzorro
Member
The transmute land (I want to say it's called Tolaria West?) sees play too.
Regarding mechanics: I actually quite like them all. From a flavor perpective, WotC absolutely hit it out of the park. As far as an impact on Constructed, I don't think they expected or wanted to create five T1 deck archetypes in Standard. How boring would it be if the set was just five obvious decks built around each mechanic thrown together? They've done a great job here of creating a set with some obviously powerful cards, some likely sleepers, a lot of interesting Limited fodder, and enough ideas to get our creative juices flowing. That's exactly what they should be doing.
Regarding mechanics: I actually quite like them all. From a flavor perpective, WotC absolutely hit it out of the park. As far as an impact on Constructed, I don't think they expected or wanted to create five T1 deck archetypes in Standard. How boring would it be if the set was just five obvious decks built around each mechanic thrown together? They've done a great job here of creating a set with some obviously powerful cards, some likely sleepers, a lot of interesting Limited fodder, and enough ideas to get our creative juices flowing. That's exactly what they should be doing.
None of the mechanics are super powerful but I they are all flavourful and should play well in limited. I think Unleash is actually quite good in limited, the 1/2 deathtouch 2 drop for example is very adaptable.
Populate is the one 'build around' mechanic that could have made an impact in constructed (all the others are just cards that do something new, not deck defining) but the support isn't there. For example Sundering Growth is better than Naturalize in a G/W deck, but if you don't have a target it's a dead card and if you don't have a token it is just a slightly harder to cast Naturalize.
Unrelated, I've just seen someone mention how well Selesnya Charm plays with Rancor. Pretty sick.
Populate is the one 'build around' mechanic that could have made an impact in constructed (all the others are just cards that do something new, not deck defining) but the support isn't there. For example Sundering Growth is better than Naturalize in a G/W deck, but if you don't have a target it's a dead card and if you don't have a token it is just a slightly harder to cast Naturalize.
Unrelated, I've just seen someone mention how well Selesnya Charm plays with Rancor. Pretty sick.
divisionbyzorro
Member
Yeah I've seen that. Rancor their guy, exile it, get Rancor back. It won't happen very often, but when it does, it'll be sweet.
It's also a guy to put Rancor on yourself.
Spoiler of what's in the prerelease guild packs. A random rare... try not to get Search the City.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
I feel a bit dirty for knowing this in advance.
divisionbyzorro
Member
Do we know if MTGO is going to run the guild packs on that pre-release? Or is it just going to be the same pre-release procedures as usual?
That is probably the stupidest intentional play that I have ever heard of.
I am really trying hard to think of something worse.
But if you need Rancor to make it a 5 then it is a 3 at the most right?
So if I have a Rancor, I can instead make a 2/2 knight and put Rancor on and be bigger or I could put Rancor on something of mine and then give it +2/+2 as an instant and come out ahead and have a beater.
I just think if it is something 3 or less, it is a waste of the charm.
There are exceptions of course (Geralf's messenger and whatnot) but I still do not see it.
In a perfect scenario it is not terrible, but what if they counter you or what if they respond with something else.
You could end up getting smacked with your own Rancor.
Again I suppose there are scenarios to save your ass, but in most situations it seems like a waste.
divisionbyzorro
Member
It's not like it's a gamewinning combo or anything. But it's important to understand all of the interactions and be prepared to take advantage of them if the situation arises.
The Exile option is the most powerful of the 3 options by a mile.
Had a guy ragequit on Cockatrice this morning when I ran the following sequence on him. ( I'm at 4, facing Lethal from an Angel token and I have a Bob/Death's Shadow in play and is at 14.) Reveal top to Bob, go to 3, draw Delta. Play top. Look at top 3 with top. Activate top. Cast Brainstorm. Play Top again, holding priority, and countering it with my own Daze, returning Watery Grave to my hand. Play Watery grave, go to 1, Attack for Lethal.
crimsonspider89
Banned
Having two medium sized beaters is typically better than just having one giant better even with trample. More creatures means less double blocking. Just my take.
crimsonspider89
Banned
Green lacks creature removal. White has had creature removal. O Ring, Swords of Plowshares, Path of Exile.
Then the combo that DaT use as well. White has always had exile functions.
Then the combo that DaT use as well. White has always had exile functions.
I think both of today's spoilers were already known, at least Rakdos was.
The guildmages abilities are nice, but seem a bit over costed, at least the 6 mana 3/3 seems to be. I guess in theory you only spend the 6 once and then get the rest for 4 assuming you have nothing better to populate.
The guildmages abilities are nice, but seem a bit over costed, at least the 6 mana 3/3 seems to be. I guess in theory you only spend the 6 once and then get the rest for 4 assuming you have nothing better to populate.
Just realized the Guildmage's first ability is 4GW and not 1GW like I first thought (small blurry pic ftl).
It was too good to be true.
The populate part is actually OK, and a better populator than the guild leader.
It was too good to be true.
The populate part is actually OK, and a better populator than the guild leader.
crimsonspider89
Banned
Populate I think is going to be stronger than people think especially with that enchant land for one green that says untap target land during opponent's turn. Yeah. Allows you to pull mana tricks with populate while still casting populates during your turn.
divisionbyzorro
Member
That guildmage is a snap first pick in limited.
I can't say for sure, but I'm pretty sure the only land aura that matters in standard is the black aura that draws cards.
In eternal formats? Who knows! There are enough bizarre utility lands that being able to run them twice might be worth it.
I can't say for sure, but I'm pretty sure the only land aura that matters in standard is the black aura that draws cards.
In eternal formats? Who knows! There are enough bizarre utility lands that being able to run them twice might be worth it.
crimsonspider89
Banned
No, that one drop one will matter. It allows you to cast one more mana than you normally would while still keeping mana untapped for abilities and instants at opponent's end of turn or to answer something they do. Like keeping two mana untapped for Golgari Charm for the regenerate in case of a Supreme Verdict.
divisionbyzorro
Member
I know. I KNOW.
A while back I was saying that Golgari was going to have to get some sort of land recursion after seeing Jarad's ability. This fits that bill, although it's nothing like what I expected.
It's an pretty big durdle in Standard though outside of Frites. In Eternal formats though.....
crimsonspider89
Banned
And Green got direct damage. Eat that snapcaster decks.
But yeah, that G/B one drop is nuts. On top of that it can be played in Legacy since it can eat ANY land in the graveyard. LD will love him.
But yeah, that G/B one drop is nuts. On top of that it can be played in Legacy since it can eat ANY land in the graveyard. LD will love him.
divisionbyzorro
Member
You don't need LD. Eternal formats are full of fetch lands; there will be no end of fodder for this guy.
Yeah, I don't expect him to dominate the Standard format, but the thing is nuts on its face. Black got a mana dork.
Everyone's playing Fetchlands. I would actually be surprised to see BoP in GTC now.
crimsonspider89
Banned
I know that but this will allow LD decks like smallpox to sacrifice there lands more so without screwing there mana base and then eat there opponent lands for mana. So wasteland- then eat land for win.
They don't want to play normal critters tho.
crimsonspider89
Banned
Yeah but they will sacrifice him after they reach there desired lockdown. But I could be wrong.
But yeah, black got mana ramp. Another thing is it is an elf. LOL.
But yeah, black got mana ramp. Another thing is it is an elf. LOL.
It's not a mythic though.
This wurm is awfully... phallic.
Keru_Shiri
Member
Just think, this Wurm + Restoration Angel...
I would still prefer Thragtusk in that situation.
But it will be fantastic in limited.
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