Dies to Removal

Thematically very cool at least.

I got 99 creatures but a block ain't one

New Augur for blue...common 2-drop 1/3 that does Scry 2 ETB.

Another red 3-drop... uncommon 2/3 that gets +2/+0 and first strike until EOT when you Scry.

Black got a life drain dude that could be pretty bomby in limited (as he's a common), but not what we need for life support in BR mid/control.

I like this better. An actual GRUUL STOMP.

Looks like all colors are getting Scry. I'm good with this.

Hundred-Handed One being able to block 100 creatures is the best flavor-centric thing I've seen in a while.

^agreed

Dare I say, this set is looking really fucking cool.

@Photo, if you're talking the grey merchant, yeah that looks like it's likely the best black common in the set by a mile. I'm particularly in love with it because my LGS is going to start doing pauper standard on Sunday's starting next week.

MBC maybe? He gains life AND is a wincon.

Thero's is looking to be a slower limited set overall which is something I like. Slow sets tend to have lots of play. The catch is that once you get to the mid late game, the game probably just ends since everything starts getting monstrous.

^ Yeah, LK, that's the guy. It is indeed a snazzy card...I started to compare it unfavorably to Disciple of Bolas until I realized that it was a common! Regrettably from the viewpoint of Standard he's rather win more--he's going to be a bomb when you have black on the field, but he's a vanilla 2/4 for 5 if you're behind or got boardwiped. Limited is a whole different ballgame...he's going to be stone nuts in a strong black build.

We should probably make an AIR list with 3cmc as the top. If you manage to stick a hammer, almost everything in your deck is a live drop.

I'm pretty sure he counts himself on ETB so he's a blind hunter bat at worse which is still a 4 point life swing and he probably averages an absorb vis which is pretty insane.

Flamespeaker Adept really looks like she belongs in a UR deck. She would make combat decisions for an opponent really complicated...cast Magma Jet or [card]Voyage's End[/card] to clear one creature and suddenly they are blocking a 4-power first-striker rather than a 2/3. Same from the defensive standpoint, of course. Interesting card.

I'm pretty sure he counts himself on ETB so he's a blind hunter bat at worse which is still a 4 point life swing and he probably averages an absorb vis which is pretty insane.

Ah...I had not stopped to consider that he would count his own devotion; I need to learn the rules better as I was of the impression that the state-based check would happen before he was there. If he's counting himself, that's indeed less conditional and more playable.

Yeah, while I don't know all the rules(good God layering) I know how ETB works and all that trickiness. I think he's gonna end up as the best black(any) common in the set, and that after seeing like, 10 commons.

After modern masters came out(and my buddy day 2ing consecutive GPs including cashing in one) I"ve started to care a lot more about limited.

There's actually an outside chance I make the trip to GP OKC from the 4th-6th because:

Theros looks awesome

It's my birthday on the 5th

I'd get to hang out with all my military friends for the first time in around 2 years

And because I wouldn't have to pay for a hotel. Sleeping on someones floor and getting shwasted the Friday before the GP.

Just have to decide if I can afford a plane ticket and leave on likely Thursday.

Another nice side affect of my friend doing well in his first 2 gps is that he's much more willing to go on these excursions
since he knows he can do well which bodes well for me as I have much more incentive to travel if I have friends with me.

This is the first rotation I'm experiencing, and I've got to say I'm really puzzled.

Cliff notes:

Some block deck is likely to survive, mythic and tourney winners from week 1-2 of the SCG open will be grossly overpriced, and R/x decks are generally at there best.

Less significant but noteworthy is that the first person to make a reasonable control deck will win a lot more then everyone else because control is generally the most powerful deck in any given format and playing the most powerful deck with decent mana and reasonable removal is a big recipe for success.

Also expect significant though not enough agro hate. Everyone knows agro is very good post rotation, but they never prepare for it enough and/or bring the wrong hate.

I like this better. An actual GRUUL STOMP.

First pickling this every time.

I like this better. An actual GRUUL STOMP.

First pickling this every time.

Pickled cyclops toes? Jeez, Fate, I know you're all-in on the Gruul-Hulk persona, but that seems a little raw even for you!

I like this better. An actual GRUUL STOMP.

First pickling this every time.

Pickled cyclops toes? Jeez, Fate, I know you're all-in on the Gruul-Hulk persona, but that seems a little raw even for you!

http://www.sourtoecocktailclub.com/

Yeah, while I don't know all the rules(good God layering) I know how ETB works and all that trickiness. I think he's gonna end up as the best black(any) common in the set, and that after seeing like, 10 commons.

Yeah, I realize now that he would have to resolve for the ETB to trigger...I really need to buckle down on rules. That being the case, he's downright remarkable at common. And as you suggested, an obvious inclusion in either MBC or Br control depending on how much depth black gets. Who if anyone gets sweepers will be the question.

Oh how I would love to keep Nighthawk at this point...

Yeah, I took apart my MBC deck during the weekend, and it was just sad to see how much of it was in M13 or Innistrad block. Some of the cards can be replaced, but Nighthawk and Mutilate will be missed. Would have been nice to have Mutilate in M14, but somehow I understand that the -1/-1 would destroy the gods too easily. Damnation anyone? Or do we have to go to Merciless Eviction? Actually, I think I'll get those MEs while they're cheap...

It sounds like black has something else interesting in the wings...just judging by names, anyway. A post on Sally about the THS Gameday promos names "Nighthowler" as the Top 8 card. I hope it lives up to the badass sound of its name...

They also just spoiled a card that when it becomes monstrous can black 99 creatures. You know, because it has 100 hands.

Chandra +1?

Also, when underworld Cerberus dies, can you scavenging ooze it before it gets exiled? And if so, does the second ability trigger? Or can you use scavenging ooze while the return to hand ability is on stack?

Re: Hammer of Puupuu (or whatever his name is)

Whether or not people think it's good now, I'll bet the entire internet that within the next two years, we will see some sort of "Hammer Time" deck that uses it. It may be in some quasi aggro shell, like in the G/r Elves deck from last Summer Standard, or in some Big Red deck that will play 1-2 (sideboard or main).

Playing with Akki Avalanchers in Modern Goblins and Stonewright in Standard has taught me that any ability that lets you turn lands into sources of damage is a valuable ability.

Is it going to be the cornerstone of an archetype? Probably not. But it does have its uses.

Solemn, you can Ooze with the dies ability on the stack.

At least, I don't see why you couldn't.

I've been hearing rumors that blue may also get a Lightning Bolt.

But it's probably just that : a rumor.

I've been hearing rumors that blue may also get a Lightning Bolt.

But it's probably just that : a rumor.

Seeing as they gave blue a flying wild nacatyl, it might be true. I think I'd quit magic if they did that outside a "shifted" set though.

I've been hearing rumors that blue may also get a Lightning Bolt.

But it's probably just that : a rumor.

I would never play anything but Delver as my BYOS deck.

Innistrad/Theros/5th

Come get some.

Wizards of the Coast: Sorry control players, have some Scry. We're sorry for that year and a half that you literally couldn't play control...
Control players: No words now, just tears...*a soft sobbing can be heard.*

The collective boners of the control players across the land are approaching redthirstian levels.

Its probably just me, but my overall imprression of this set is ehhhh. Nothing has gotten me super exited to play with. Maybe its time for a break.

Play Modern with us! DOOOO ITTTTTTT

I probably would, if anyone actually played modern, or wanted to around here. My appreciation for the format has grown quite a bit. Otherwise, I think I'll try to complete my Legacy deck. (last Duals/Fetchlands)

Its probably just me, but my overall imprression of this set is ehhhh. Nothing has gotten me super exited to play with. Maybe its time for a break.

I keep comparing it to Innistrad because that's the what it'll be replacing, so I'm in the same camp as you. They haven't given us a Noble or Hellrider yet, so I remain disappointed. Scry is cool, though. The flavor is also neat, but still, I like Innistrad's better. Going through all the rares/mythics the other day to make a list of cards to pick up after rotation reminded me of just how well designed and flavorful that set was.

They haven't given us a Noble or Hellrider yet, so I remain disappointed.

Not to be a dick or anything, but this sounds an awful lot like the type of stuff we used to make fun of out of control players. "They haven't given us Jace, the Mind Sculptor back, so fuck Wizards!"

I mean, hasn't red really gotten enough out of M14 already? Not even including Theros? [card]Chandra's Phoenix[/card]? Ogre Battledriver? YOUNG PYROMANCER!? The face of aggressive red decks is not, and does not always need to be "I played all of these creatures and attacked a lot, gg." Magma Jet and [card]Young Pyromancer[/card:
1rjyxung] being together in the same format probably means that we're getting a more traditional sligh archetype again instead of the same old boring aggro decks. If you'll recall, mono red sligh has been a tier 1 deck in multiple standard formats in the past. Not to mention the quality playables that are still in Return to Ravnica block that haven't seen quite the amount of play that they should be. Things like Frostburn Weird, Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch, (there looks like a +1/+1 subtheme in Theros) Guttersnipe, plus all of the sweet-ass Guildmages? (Gruul in particular.)

You don't have to be impressed with the next set as a whole in order to be able to play the archetype you want to play. Things might be changing but you will basically always be able to play mono red.

They haven't given us a Noble or Hellrider yet, so I remain disappointed.

Not to be a dick or anything, but this sounds an awful lot like the type of stuff we used to make fun of out of control players. "They haven't given us Jace, the Mind Sculptor back, so fuck Wizards!"

I mean, hasn't red really gotten enough out of M14 already? Not even including Theros? [card]Chandra's Phoenix[/card]? Ogre Battledriver? YOUNG PYROMANCER!? The face of aggressive red decks is not, and does not always need to
be "I played all of these creatures and attacked a lot, gg." Magma Jet and Young Pyromancer being together in the same format probably means that we're getting a more traditional sligh archetype again instead of the same old boring aggro decks. If you'll recall, mono red sligh has been a tier 1 deck in multiple standard formats in the past. Not to mention the quality playables that are still in Return to Ravnica block that haven't seen quite the amount of play that they should be. Things like Frostburn Weird, Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch, (there looks like a +1/+1 subtheme in Theros) Guttersnipe, plus all of the sweet-ass Guildmages? (Gruul in particular.)

You don't have to be impressed with the next set as a whole in order to be able to play the archetype you want to play. Things might be changing but you will basically always be able
to play mono red.

You're right. Wizards has been very nice to red recently. That part was a bit exaggerated and unreasonable. Still, I'd like to see a powerful 1 drop like Noble and a 4 drop that feels more like TMaw, Hellrider, or Hero of Oxid Ridge than Ogre Battledriver. But I get what you're saying, and these things probably won't happen.

Ogre Battledriver is just as good as Hero of Oxid Ridge, though...? It might even be better.

Ogre Battledriver is just as good as Hero of Oxid Ridge, though...? It might even be better.

Lies.

Horrible, horrible lies.