Simply Sarah
Member
The art direction is fairly generic so far, which is a pity since they'd somewhat moved away from that for a few sets.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Magic: the Gathering |OT11| Amonkhet - Have you ever had decks with a Pharaoh?
- Thread starter SigmasonicX
- Start date
- Status
The art direction is fairly generic so far, which is a pity since they'd somewhat moved away from that for a few sets.
Familienoberhauptvogel
Banned
It's more that everyone is shining and doing theatrical poses. The art for the legend has a really weird angle too. It looks very uniform for better or worse.
Simply Sarah
Member
I mean, there were always going to be payoff cards.
As a side note, I still hate the "cycle or discard" thing and still think it's likely to cause more confusion rather than less.
But think how many scarabs it would make.
GregLombardi
Member
Yeah I mean doesn't cycling a card mean you discard it in addition to paying its cycle cost?
Familienoberhauptvogel
Banned
it's banishing light though.
Cheap cycler + Oblivion Ring for 4. Not too bad.
But think of the possibility of a Melira Stompy in Modern.
Yes, the wording is unnecessarily redundant.
Simply Sarah
Member
Yep. Part of the cycling cost is discarding.
Simply Sarah
Member
I mean, that would require enough of the -1/-1 counter cards to be Modern playable. Even with previous -1/-1 sets that seems very questionable. Additionally, several cards here want -1/-1 counters on them so that's a bit anti-synergy.
Yeah that's why I said 'so far.' Between Invocations being a huge miss and the first day of spoilers being pretty much, I'm not feeling the excitement. Today's cards are more interesting.
I just said 'so far.' The cycling lands are the best part for sure, everything has been under or just whelming.
Simply Sarah
Member
OK, now this is just outright terrible.
Familienoberhauptvogel
Banned
Easy they are real boring.
How is stricly better? They are extremely different.
Yesterday I was brainstorming the most boring God designs I could come up with, and I basically hit the nail on the head with the Blue one. It's just so... "Yep, that's a blue card."
Obviously a good card because, hey, 5/5 flying indestructible for 3 that can also draw cards isn't terrible by any stretch, but I wish that they were a bit more interesting.
Obviously a good card because, hey, 5/5 flying indestructible for 3 that can also draw cards isn't terrible by any stretch, but I wish that they were a bit more interesting.
I think paying 4 to put two cards in your hand is good when you're trying to get to 7+. Plus you can return cycling lands to your hand late game to replace them with action. Plus it's a 5/5 flier, plus it costs one less.
Blue God has one important stat: 5 toughness
Key in a format with Avacyn and Heart of Kiran
It might be solid in Copy Cat as a lot of the cards in that deck replace themselves, but there's probably no room for it. I really wonder how popular all these Gods are gonna end up being in Standard. It works with Cycling, so yay?
That cycling Banishing Light is dope.
I should get excited about Essence Scatter, but it doesn't stop vehicles.
The mana dork is really cool design and probably my favorite card in the set so far.
EDIT: Funny how weird this set seems while having the most boring flagship cards.
Key in a format with Avacyn and Heart of Kiran
It might be solid in Copy Cat as a lot of the cards in that deck replace themselves, but there's probably no room for it. I really wonder how popular all these Gods are gonna end up being in Standard. It works with Cycling, so yay?
That cycling Banishing Light is dope.
I should get excited about Essence Scatter, but it doesn't stop vehicles.
The mana dork is really cool design and probably my favorite card in the set so far.
EDIT: Funny how weird this set seems while having the most boring flagship cards.
Familienoberhauptvogel
Banned
They are indestructible. Toughness only matters for -/- effects/counters and cards like Bunr from Within or Bonds of Mortality.
Simply Sarah
Member
5 toughness doesn't matter for those examples because it's Indestructible anyway. And, to be clear, when I say it's terrible I mean it's an awkward as hell card with a generally bad ability but which I also think has a decent chance of being in a top Standard deck because it's janky in just the right ways to allow that. It's actually a somewhat interesting card but, like its perverted friend, it's not going to excite the average player. So far we have two gods that seem to be either Spike cards or unplayable.
The Blue god allows you to pick up your bicycle cards late game and draw a card for cycling them.
Open Heart will hit a lot of targets and should replace Transgress whenever it rotates out.
The split cards are still hella fugly imo. The bottom half is just a wall of text. I guess the thought as demonstrated in the spotlight is to turn it vertically in the graveyard so you can view it clearly. Problem is most players turn cards sideways to indicate a card has been exiled from the graveyard instead. And although you can play both spells in one turn, Im guessing you cant cast the sorcery portion alongside the instant spell at well instant speed. Would be cool if a kicker cost would allow you to do so.
I love Channeler Initiate. It feels push and probably shouldve been a defender. I wouldnt be surprised if were all bitching about this card in the near future lol.
Does Temmet have a place in Bant Tokens?
Whats that 5cmc bird in Revolt that gives +1/+1 and vigilance to creatures you control? Tah-Crop Elite seems just as good, if not better for being 1cmc less.
Winding Constrictor additional counter isnt a may ability. The BG Constrictor deck is gonna get hosed.
Exemplar of Strength may find a home if there are ways to cheat removing counters faster. I mean, its virtually a 3/3 for 2cmc by the time it gets to attack.
Not sure what to think of blue god. Seems pretty tough to have 7 cards in hand, and thats even in older formats with way better card draws. Should be easy in commander though.
The split cards are still hella fugly imo. The bottom half is just a wall of text. I guess the thought as demonstrated in the spotlight is to turn it vertically in the graveyard so you can view it clearly. Problem is most players turn cards sideways to indicate a card has been exiled from the graveyard instead. And although you can play both spells in one turn, Im guessing you cant cast the sorcery portion alongside the instant spell at well instant speed. Would be cool if a kicker cost would allow you to do so.
I love Channeler Initiate. It feels push and probably shouldve been a defender. I wouldnt be surprised if were all bitching about this card in the near future lol.
Does Temmet have a place in Bant Tokens?
Whats that 5cmc bird in Revolt that gives +1/+1 and vigilance to creatures you control? Tah-Crop Elite seems just as good, if not better for being 1cmc less.
Winding Constrictor additional counter isnt a may ability. The BG Constrictor deck is gonna get hosed.
Exemplar of Strength may find a home if there are ways to cheat removing counters faster. I mean, its virtually a 3/3 for 2cmc by the time it gets to attack.
Not sure what to think of blue god. Seems pretty tough to have 7 cards in hand, and thats even in older formats with way better card draws. Should be easy in commander though.
GoutPatrol
Forgotten in his cell
Alot of the UR Tower control decks could use this, they routinely have a full hand. Also I hope they make an Ebony Owl reprint (or just with Egyptian flavor) so OWLING MINE comes back to standard.
This card is cool and would be a fun 1-of in Mono-U Turns instead of Thassa but they are pretty comparable.
I just built turns and there is essentially 3 flex slots depending on how many Exhaustion/Gigadrowse you run. I was going to use the Fate Reforged time warp, but I was thinking about using Thassa as another win con that also set ups your Miracles.
75% of cycling cards in the past have been garbage or limited fodder in part because WOTC said they didn't want to put cycling on too many "good" cards and force awkward decisions. So far in this set, almost all the cycling cards have been great on their own and not overcosted. Has WOTC's design philosophy changed with regard to cycling?
Like 4 mana for a Banishing Light with flash isn't overcosted, its fairly costed. However it gets cycling too? I feel that wouldn't have happened in past sets.
Like 4 mana for a Banishing Light with flash isn't overcosted, its fairly costed. However it gets cycling too? I feel that wouldn't have happened in past sets.
Familienoberhauptvogel
Banned
The worst part about Kefnet is that it's a dumb big beater. Are all gods supposed to be that if you fulfill their conditions? Will none of them have their power be in their activated ability over their statline?
Does a set really need 5 mythics that are big dumb beaters?
Does a set really need 5 mythics that are big dumb beaters?
Why do I like saying dumb beater so much?
...when will this spoiler season actually get exciting?
While there was excitement leading up to and during the Invocations getting spoiled they whiffed in a major way.
The two spoiled gods have been poorly received.
Aftermath cards have been underwhelming and were highly criticized for their template.
The good things from this spoiler season have been: the rule change about the CMC of split cards, Cycling returning and the cycling land cycle.
I'm not a big Limited guy, or Standard even, so I'm probably missing some good stuff...but for me I'm already just trying to pick out stuff that will fit into some of my Commander decks.
While there was excitement leading up to and during the Invocations getting spoiled they whiffed in a major way.
The two spoiled gods have been poorly received.
Aftermath cards have been underwhelming and were highly criticized for their template.
The good things from this spoiler season have been: the rule change about the CMC of split cards, Cycling returning and the cycling land cycle.
I'm not a big Limited guy, or Standard even, so I'm probably missing some good stuff...but for me I'm already just trying to pick out stuff that will fit into some of my Commander decks.
Apparently the return a land is optional. Also I think I've seen this card before 
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
It's a version of the bog standard blue finisher because blue isn't allowed to do anything different.
Simply Sarah
Member
MagicSpoiler translates the land returning as a may. That would be much more reasonable if it's the case.
thanks, I updated the translation in my post
Yeah, but that's not what strictly better means. Like, if you are late game with no hand Hazoret is better, if you need some reach Hazoret is better, if you are topdecking Hazoret is better, etc
I think Kefnet is probably better, yeah, but not strictly better as there are times where you'd prefer to have Hazoret.
So 0-2 on these god cards. Did they seriously think that people would be excited for slapped on mechanics that require you to be behind on board just to have a big dumb beater?
Watch this happen
Black God - Be behind in life to attack
Green God - IDK have the weakest creature to attack
White God - Have less creatures to attack
Even that W/U legend is bizarre.. Pump a token??
Watch this happen
Black God - Be behind in life to attack
Green God - IDK have the weakest creature to attack
White God - Have less creatures to attack
Even that W/U legend is bizarre.. Pump a token??
Familienoberhauptvogel
Banned
Nah I think Hazoret is better. Easier to get live and a better beater because it attacks right away.
You don't need card advantage when you're closing out the game already and discard has a ton of synergy.
You don't need card advantage when you're closing out the game already and discard has a ton of synergy.
I think one more toughness for one less mana for easier to use and more all-around useful abilities is better, I guess except if you're in a situation where you need reach. If that one situation makes it not strictly, then I sit corrected.
I do think it's interesting how directly they wouldn't play well together in the same deck, though. Really makes you have to pick your god and devote yourself to them. It's really cool flavorwise.
I don't know what's bizarre about it. It's an embalm payoff.
I know, right? It makes sense with Embalm and everything, but it strange to see it not being G/W.
I'm not sure how both "have lots of cards" and "having no cards" gets you to "behind on board". One I could see, but not both. I think the template is pretty well set at this point in that it'll require a not completely common circumstance that is appropriate, and good, for the color and the activated ability will help you get there.
- Status