8-drops

General forum

Posted on Oct. 10, 2016, 6:41 p.m. by _person_

If you could have any 8-drop creature on the battlefield on turn 1, what would it be?

MindAblaze says... #2

October 10, 2016 6:45 p.m.
October 10, 2016 6:48 p.m.

primtj17 says... #4

Greater Morphling obviously

October 10, 2016 6:59 p.m.

Shane.Allen says... #5

October 10, 2016 7:03 p.m.
October 10, 2016 7:12 p.m.

Eiti3 says... #7

Mindleech Mass. Far too underappreciated.

October 10, 2016 7:18 p.m.

Hellkite Overlord

Or, assuming my opponent(s) gets one as well, probably Ashen Rider

October 10, 2016 7:59 p.m.

IzzetGod says... #9

Greater Morphling ftw!

Besides that, maybe just Maelstrom Wanderer.

October 10, 2016 8:32 p.m.

Akroma, Angel of Wrath could be good. And depending on if you start with it in play or not, Trench Gorger and one-shot someone.

October 10, 2016 9:21 p.m.

_person_ says... #11

and if I were to say the same for seven and nine?

October 10, 2016 9:39 p.m.

Aztraeuz says... #12

I believe that Griselbrand is by far the best 8 drop.

Avacyn, Angel of Hope is one of my favorite cards too though.

Funny how they are enemies and two of my favorites.

October 10, 2016 9:55 p.m.

_person_ says... #13

so for 7-drops and 9-drops...

October 10, 2016 10:12 p.m.

Gidgetimer says... #14

Really your question is the same as asking "what are some good reanimator targets". So the list is pretty easy for me.

7 drop- Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite

8 drop- Griselbrand, Tidespout Tyrant, Empyrial Archangel

9 drop- Iona, Shield of Emeria

10 drop- Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur

October 10, 2016 10:15 p.m.

_person_ says... #15

I wasn't thinking in terms of reanimated... but ok.

October 10, 2016 10:24 p.m.

iBleedPunk says... #16

MindAblaze has the right idea. If we play a game where each player gets 1 8-drop to start the game with Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger would be the most oppressive. Instantly having double the mana AND your opponents get their land frozen when they try to play something is harsh. Trust me, my wife runs him as a commander and it pains me to play at times

October 10, 2016 11:24 p.m.

Onion_duck says... #17

Really people? No one has picked the greatest 8-drop ever made? Scornful Egotist for life.

Seriously though besides the ones already mentioned I would love to have Tidespout Tyrant, Sphinx of the Steel Wind, Mindleech Mass, Magmatic Force, Godsire or Avatar of Slaughter All can be very oppressive if not dealt with ASAP. Honourable mention to Bearer of the Heavens just because he resets the game if he is dealt with.

October 11, 2016 12:26 a.m.

The_Raven says... #18

Can you give a little more insight to why you would have a 8-drop T1? Is it a combo? A funny commander rule?

October 11, 2016 3:24 a.m.

All honesty, Ulamog's Crusher is the best choice here. Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger and Griselbrand and friends don't do any good when you're forced to sacrifice them on T2 to annihilator.

October 11, 2016 9:52 a.m.

Aztraeuz says... #20

I have to disagree Raging_Squiggle. Griselbrand is an absolute monster. He allows you to easily draw into combo pieces.

I believe it probably comes down to format. Overall, I feel Griselbrand wins. It is just too strong to get so much card draw virtually for free.

October 11, 2016 1:08 p.m.

It ultimately depends on how everyone got these 8 drops out. If you just ramped Super Hard and have multiple permanents, then I agree with you there. However, if there are minimal to no permanents and we just start with them out at turn 1. Then I have to disagree. You can pay 14 or 21 life or whatever and draw all the cards, but if you have no lands to play your combo pieces because of annihilator, you're out of luck.

October 11, 2016 1:29 p.m.

Aztraeuz says... #22

Yeah, even starting with the creatures on T1, I feel the deck around them is still extremely important. You can start with an awesome piece, but it has to have the support around it.

To get around the Annihilator you would have to have some 0 drops. Also a Crucible of Worlds would be great. I don't expect a format with a free 8 drop on T1 to ever be a thing, but it is fun to think about.

October 11, 2016 1:55 p.m.

Same applies to Ashen Rider imo. Assuming both players get an 8-drop simultaneously as the game starts, Rider would trigger ETB and exile the opponent's choice, assuming it doesn't have hexproof/shroud, Ulamog's Crusher included. Griselbrand would have a chance to activate in response, but without a Spellbook/Reliquary Tower it'd all just be dumped into the grave and you'd leave yourself crippled of life while I still hold a 5/5 flying.

It all kind of depends on how/when these 8-drops hit the board, and what kind of format. I mean if we're talking Vintage and/or Casual then most of this is irrelevant really, it'd all ride on the other cards you have. I mean really you can get an 8-drop legitimately on turn one that way via good old Dark Ritual + Entomb + Exhume .

October 11, 2016 3:23 p.m.

This discussion has been closed