Summoning Trap

Instant — Trap

If a creature spell you cast this turn was countered by a spell or ability an opponent controlled, you may pay {{0}} rather than pay Summoning Trap's mana cost.

Look at the top seven cards of your library. You may put a creature card from among them onto the battlefield. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (50)

Torbjoern90 on

3 years ago

Summoning Trap costs less/nothing

MTGBurgeoning on Gruul Stompy Featuring Xenagos, God of Revels

3 years ago

I have given some thought to what Zendikar Rising provides!

Personally, I do not feel enamored with Turntimber Symbiosis at the moment. That feeling may change, but this card seems like it will hurt big-time if it whiffs. Of course, the odds are against that happening, but this is Magic the Gathering and those kinds of shenanigans happen. In comparison, Summoning Trap, at instant-speed, can absorb a potential whiff more easily when cast at the end of an opponent's turn than watching helplessly as went up in smoke during our main phase. On the other side of the card, we have a Forest that enters the battlefield tapped unless we pay three life. Paying three life is not inordinately burdensome in our format, but for just ? Spidey senses are tingling all over the place, and I sense this card may be more harmful than beneficial in the deck. Let me know how Turntimber Symbiosis functions for you.

Bala Ged Recovery: I don't feel excited about this card. If the land entered the battlefield untapped it would receive more praise, naturally. This is a slightly over-costed Regrowth with the option of putting a land into play tapped. Honestly, I feel "meh" about this card. I don't plan on play-testing it or adding it at the moment. I prefer lands that don't enter the battlefield tapped, and printing a more expensive Regrowth on the other side of this card is not alluring enough for me to consider including it in the deck.

Of the cards you mentioned, I believe Moraug, Fury of Akoum provides the greatest power and synergy with our deck. This minotaur's inclusion seems inevitable for a Xenagos, God of Revels deck and motivates me to include Fabled Passage, Prismatic Vista and Wooded Foothills in order to increase the potential number of accrued combat phases in a turn. I envision having a biggun or two under our control, casting Moraug, Fury of Akoum and then playing a land. Perhaps it is one of the aforementioned lands, granting us with TWO additional combat phases. In this scenario and with Xenagos, God of Revels under our control, our creatures can REALLY get out of hand if we can drop a land or two. Although it currently is not in the deck, I am tempted to imagine how a Genesis Waved Moraug, Fury of Akoum develops. At worst, Moraug, Fury of Akoum is a monster that can whittle away opponents' creatures through combat. I definitely want to test this card!

Here are some cards I am either interested in testing or their inclusion is inevitable:

INEVITABLE: Cragcrown Pathway. Once a copy of this land becomes available, it will find its way into this deck and most likely replace a basic land.

INTERESTED: Inscription of Abundance is intriguing. At just , the options of gaining life equal to the power of one of our creatures OR having one of our creatures enter Fight Club are really versatile. Additionally, kicking this spell for just seems very reasonably costed, and we can choose both of the previously discussed options and put two +1 +1 counters on a creature. The entirety of those modes seem more valuable than . I also enjoy the potential political motivation of this card, as the +1 +1 counters and the life gain, respectively, denote "target creature" and "target player," not "target creature you control" and "you." I'll be taking a long look at Inscription of Abundance. It seems too good not to.

D'OH! If only Cragplate Baloth had trample!!

INTERESTED: I think Shatterskull Charger may be worth a look. Not kicking this creature brings it back to our hand at the beginning of our end step. With Xenagos, God of Revels under our control, paying and attacking with an 8/7 hasty trampler that is safe from sorcery removal seems strong. This reminds me of the dash mechanic. I think it is worth play-testing.

INEVITABLE: Lithoform Engine is an absolute powerhouse. I'm still in awe that this card was created. Seriously. I think consideration should be given to including this card in every EDH/Commander deck, right after Sol Ring. I do not exaggerate. Not only is Lithoform Engine the most powerful card in Zendikar Rising, it will be the next most-desired staple of the format. This is over-powered. This is beyond over-powered:

, Tap Lithoform Engine: Copy target activated or triggered ability you control. You may choose new targets for the copy. This is BETTER THAN Strionic Resonator, which currently resides in the deck.

, Tap Lithoform Engine: Copy target instant or sorcery spell you control. You may choose new targets for the copy. This is a personalized version of Reverberate or Twincast, and only costs . Think: Selvala's Stampede, Chandra's Ignition, Return of the Wildspeaker, Savage Beating, Summoning Trap, Skyshroud Claim.

, Tap Lithoform Engine: Copy target permanent spell you control. SERIOIUSLY!??

At the time of this reply, Lithoform Engine is, justifiably, the most expensive card in Zendikar Rising (aside from Box Toppers) and I predict it will be THE CHASE CARD of Zendikar Rising. I also believe that this set will be printed/opened into absolute oblivion due to the presence of the aforementioned Box Toppers and its tenure in Standard for the next two years. As a result, I plan to watch for potential price variations in Lithoform Engine and then accumulate as many as possible. This card is too good.

INTERESTED: There may be some mid- to late-game benefits to including Crawling Barrens in the land base. It seems like a decent mana-sink at instant-speed. Actually, I am surprised that this card did not include the dreaded "only at any time you can cast a sorcery" text. As an added value, we choose when to make Crawling Barrens a creature. As another benefit, it's only a creature until the end of the turn. This versatility is valuable to us and maddening to our opponents. All of these benefits reside ON A LAND. If Raging Ravine occupies a slot in the land base, I think there may be a place for Crawling Barrens as well.

At the moment, those are the cards that promote the greatest amount of fancy-tickling for me. I'm looking forward to Zendikar Rising and can't wait to crack them packs and feast on the goodies inside!

MTGBurgeoning on Gruul Stompy Featuring Xenagos, God of Revels

3 years ago

Interesting appraisals.

I can easily see swapping in Atarka, World Render for Rampaging Brontodon. Atarka, World Render used to be in the deck. These two creatures have the same converted mana cost, but Atarka, World Render includes flying and double strike and will always deal more combat damage than Rampaging Brontodon with Xenagos, God of Revels, unless we have more than ten lands under our control. By that time, the game should be over. This is a reasonable consideration.

Replacing Mana Geyser with Heroic Intervention is also reasonable. I haven't had difficulty utilizing the mana produced by Mana Geyser, early-game or late-game. Heroic Intervention does add a layer of protection unlike anything else in the deck. This swap could work. I'm willing to experiment.

I don't remember a time I whiffed on Summoning Trap. With 26 creatures currently in the deck, the odds of hitting at least one are in our favor. The instant-speed of this spell has been attractive as well. The overall return on the investment of six mana (with so many creatures in our deck that cost 6 CMC or more) is worthy of its deck slot. I prefer its inclusion.

The continued inclusion of Chord of Calling may have been an oversight on my part. Without the presence of Gaea's Cradle and a swarm of tokens, casting Chord of Calling to flash-in a now absent Craterhoof Behemoth seems misguided. It will be difficult to take advantage of its convoke mechanic. We want our creatures tapping for combat, not tapping in order to cast a spell. As my only copy of Worldly Tutor is spoken for, I will need to look in a different direction. Perhaps including Savage Ventmaw or Kozilek, Butcher of Truth?

Not a fan of Worldspine Wurm? Your assessment is correct: I'm never casting this for . HOWEVER, with Sneak Attack, Summoning Trap, Quicksilver Amulet, Tooth and Nail and Selvala's Stampede I'll never have to. Worldspine Wurm's performance has been spectacular and I am unable to justifiably remove it from the deck list at this time. It has been too good.

Participating in an EDH/Commander game without seeing at least one Superfriends deck has become as rare as winter roses for me. Star of Extinction has been a great way to deal with planeswalkers. Destroying a solitary land is nothing ground-breaking. I am not a proponent of land destruction. However, Maze of Ith is way too popular and I never bore of destroying it and then wiping the board. There's a lot of tribal in my meta and sending 20 damage everywhere helps to keep the battlefield clear. I used to run Starstorm. The instant-speed potential of Starstorm is great. Holding up mana to cast it instead of casting spells during my turn is not great. Questing Beast is definitely a bad mamma jamma. Perhaps I can find room for Questing Beast by swapping it in for one of the aforementioned unfavorable cards...?

Hmmm, well, to summarize:

I plan to keep Worldspine Wurm, Summoning Trap and Star of Extinction in the current deck list. They are quite helpful and have proven their usefulness historically in my meta.

I will definitely play-test and game-play a swap of Rampaging Brontodon for Atarka, World Render. This should not be a difficult transition, as previously mentioned.

I can Tinker with an exchange of Mana Geyser for Heroic Intervention. Perhaps the added protection will prove to be more beneficial than the somewhat pricey ramp spell. We shall see.

I will remove Chord of Calling from the deck. As stated, I believe it was an oversight to leave it in the deck list. Perhaps Questing Beast can take its place. I like that idea.

Thanks for the evaluation!

Profet93 on Gruul Stompy Featuring Xenagos, God of Revels

3 years ago

Glad to see you enjoyed the changes, and yes, Etali puts in work!! Couple more comments, not sure if previously mentioned but...

1. Rampaging Brontodon - I know you like this card but I find Atarka, World Render better. More damage, more evasion, works with the few other dragons you have. I think its a superior upgrade, thoughts?

2. Worldspire Wurm - I know you like this card as your finisher, maybe I can't convince you otherwise but I'll sure as hell try. Unless you cheat it out with 2 few cheating cards that arent mana intensive, then you rarely cast this. Do you really get up to 11 mana that easily in most games? I find this very eh? The worms it leaves behind are nice (assuming no exile/bounce effects), but I think you would be better suited with a lower costed creature that still is in your game plan such as Savage Ventmaw? I'm not telling you to run aggravated, but ventmaw is very helpful in establishing tempo, something that Xenagos decks don't have much of. By getting the attack trigger, you could (as I have done multiple times) use a rishkar's expertise or a return of the wildspeaker to get some card draw. If not savage ventmaw and you're looking for another beater, why not Kozilek, Butcher of Truth? I mentioned him before because unless you are primarily cheating in creatures, he costs less, gives you card draw and is more of an immediate threat with annihlator.

3. Mana Geyser - Without commet storm, is there a point to this? Doesn't seem good without reiterate, which you shouldn't add either. Plus it's only red mana and very dependent on opponents. Would replace with something else. Again, I hype up deflecting swat, but another good card is Heroic Intervention. Pretty cheap and works well against almost all types of removal. Doesn't have to be any of these, could be stuff in your maybeboard

4. Chord of Calling - Without tokens, this is not that great. I would put in Worldly Tutor or something else instead. Although I feel you have enough tutors?

5. Summoning Trap - Idk how prevalent blue is in your meta, but I never liked this card. Too much whiff potential even though you look at 7. Would rather have another beater or more card draw

6. Star of Extinction - Eh? Are planeswalkers prevalent in the meta or problematic lands an issue? I feel questing beast and strip mine could solve both those issues. Rather add a card that benefits your game plan as you already have enough wipes IMO.

MTGBurgeoning on Gruul Stompy Featuring Xenagos, God of Revels

3 years ago

1. Yes, the average converted mana cost of this deck is high, as the big, beefy creatures inflate the average CMC (average CMC of creatures equals seven). Due to this, I tried placing a bit of a premium on ways to cheat these creatures onto the battlefield with cards like Quicksilver Amulet, Sneak Attack, Selvala's Stampede, Summoning Trap and Tooth and Nail. There are also additional spells that are more resource-intensive than the aforementioned cards (Vivien's Arkbow, Temporal Aperture, Finale of Devastation and Chord of Calling). With nine ramp spells/mana rocks in the deck, casting spells has not been difficult. As for eliminating some more expensive creatures, I've been thinking about swapping out Moldgraf Monstrosity for Quartzwood Crasher. Additionally, I'd like to include Ghalta, Primal Hunger and planning never to pay to cast it.

2. I agree about card draw. Currently the only card draw in the deck is Greater Good. I want to include Guardian Project but must acquire a copy of it. Adding Momentous Fall and/or Return of the Wildspeaker would strengthen this weakness.

3. Yes, there is little chance of completing the Avenger of Zendikar and Chancellor of the Forge combo without Tooth and Nail or Shared Summons, and hard-casting each of these creatures on the same turn by investing 14 mana is not optimal. Yes, in the majority of games I have played with Xenagos, God of Revels this combo is enabled less than half of the time. These statements are undeniably true. I will consider removing Chancellor of the Forge, Living Hive, Avenger of Zendikar and Gaea's Cradle and replacing them with Momentous Fall, Return of the Wildspeaker, The Great Henge, Ghalta, Primal Hunger or Migration Path. When a copy of Guardian Project falls into my ever-waiting arms I will add it to the deck.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts about our Gruul God! I look forward to more back-and-forth in the future!

m_to_the_three on You Just Activated My Trap Card!

4 years ago

Abzkaban

It is your call, just any card that seems to be under performing or just doesnt synergize well. Im usually not a fan of Defense of the Heart just because it a very slow tutor, cause even if you meet the requirements when you play it you still got to wait a whole turn and that can easily get destroyed by single target removal or boardwipe. Gift of Doom also seems a bit meh to me but that's just because I don't see indestructible being that strong. It is your call at the end cause you been playing and testing this deck out so if both these cards turned out to be really powerful and synergize well then keep em.

If ya want more trap cards, Summoning Trap and Cobra Trap seem to synergize with your deck.

BTW if ya need more tutors Natural Order and Tooth and Nail are pretty amazing green creature tutors. Also if ya dont mind sacing your stuff Diabolic Intent is pretty much demonic tutor but you got to sac something first.

Abzkaban on You Just Activated My Trap Card!

4 years ago

Sanguinolency

Yeah I'm not feeling Booby Trap. It just doesn't do enough to help the deck. I like the flavor, though.

Summoning Trap could be good, but I feel it's too situational. I do have some blue in my pod, but I don't find my creatures getting countered often when I play this deck.

Sanguinolency on You Just Activated My Trap Card!

4 years ago

I think, even though the CMC is a bit high, the card Booby Trap is on flavor here. The ability isn't the best, unless you can catch someone top decking at instant speed. Also, along with the trap cards, Summoning Trap is pretty good if you are in a pod that has a lot of blue.