Scars of Mirrodin Speculation
General forum
Posted on July 18, 2010, 1 a.m. by honeymomo
So I was talking to some judges and you heard it here first:
- Poison counters are back
- Elspeth may get reprinted (recent rule change for her final ability specifically - puts an indestructibility emblem into play in its own zone that cannot be targeted or effected by cards)
- Poison counters also go in the same area as the emblem
Personally: - Hoping for a new Tez! - Thinking Steel Overseer will go up in price!
I think green will get some more loving. did ya miss the ezuri's brigade that was spoilt? That's a potential sleeper right there for standard.
Who knows what else will be happening... Spoiler season is open me thinks.
September 5, 2010 11:39 p.m.
I like venser. Elspeth's a planar cleansing waiting to go off. I'd say thats pretty awesome.
Has anyone noticed that the art for contagion clasp looks like the flood (Halo, anyone?)?
September 6, 2010 12:03 a.m.
SocialistElite says... #4
I think Im in love with Venser. Him + MullDrifter = HELL YES!!
Also, I wonder how the Legend Rule will work with the creature Vensure and the Planeswalker Venser.
September 6, 2010 12:08 a.m.
I think Scars is seriously going to rock the current meta hard. With just the current cards released on the wizards site artifacts are going to carry something heavy. Also the "Mox Opel" even though its legendary, is going to be sick. Metalcraft is also a sick mechanic.
I am loving the 2GG 4/4 Metalcraft is going to be extremely successful.
http://images.community.wizards.com/community.wizards.com/user/mono789/27cfd687b696aa2ecf380214858f4509.jpg?v=151200
September 6, 2010 1:43 a.m.
nammertime says... #6
I wouldn't say that Scars would rock the meta hard, seeing as how even without Scars, the loss of Shards would rock the meta like crazy already.
September 6, 2010 2:32 a.m.
Okay true with Shards rotating the meta is getting a drastic change. Although Scars is bringing some new/old mechanics into the game that will bring some either classic styles or vast new styles into the game. Combo, beat down, and perhaps some "Serious" Control style decks. But I think Combo and Beat down will have a boost into the meta more then control by far. This is my speculation and own opinion with just what I saw from Scars so far.
September 6, 2010 2:36 a.m.
can you say "power creep leap"? some of this stuff (planeswalkers, etc) is wicked good.
since not much of the common/uncommon part of the set has been spoiled, my hopes are for, in no particular order:
Ancient Grudge or something of similar efficiency. Maybe a reprint of the echoing cycle (Echoing Ruin , Echoing Truth , etc.) to go with.
Maelstrom Pulse or another 'destroy target permanent' effect in at least one of those colours.
'anti-proliferate' in some form - "when CARDNAME deals combat damage to a player, remove a counter from target permanent" or something like that.
card:Akroma's Vengeance.
Something good to replace Tendrils of Corruption .
Some form of either artifact or enchantment removal available to black. Or colourless, though I think card:Nevinyrral's Disk would be completely warping in today's standard.
September 6, 2010 10:54 a.m.
If i am reading the mechanic "Infect" correctly, if you have a creature with a 3 power plus infect, if it hit a player thats 3 poison counters not just one. If so that is going to be so wrong. Infect is going to be a sick mechanic in its own right for sure.
I am seriously starting to like the Metalcraft mechanic more and more as I am reading, I mean seriously, a dream hand of course but it could happen,
Forest ,Forest ,ornthoptor,Memnite , mox-opel, Carapace Forger , Carapace Forger . It would actually be a sick hand.
A turn 1 4/4 then another 4/4 turn two. Thats a very fast clock.
September 6, 2010 12:53 p.m.
713K_4_13055 says... #11
OMG. Just realized this. Proliferate, meet Transcendent Master . Can you say instant-speed level-up??
September 6, 2010 1:57 p.m.
713K_4_13055: You realise that proliferate does not double the counters, it only adds one more, so really if you look at Contagion Clasp you'd be paying 4 to add one level up counter... Proliferate is not that good for level up creatures unless it is with creatures who already have a high level up cost.
Also,
Palladium Myr - 3
Artifact Creature - Myr
T, Add 2 to your mana pool.
2/2
September 6, 2010 2:20 p.m.
713K_4_13055 says... #13
Yes, I do. However, I doubt that the only Proliferate sources will be Thummingbird, Contagion Clasp, and Steady Progress. I'm hoping for recurring Proliferate, like the Clasp, but more efficient. Also, it would be a board-wide level-up. Not just one counter.
September 6, 2010 2:30 p.m.
Um. More efficient? You do realize that things like Garruk Wildspeaker , Transcendent Master , poison, wither, this new mechanic what's-it-called, uhhhh, Pyromancer Ascension , and, i dunno, maybe Elspeth Tirel all use counters? Pretty sure I'd be happy with an artifact with "4, tap: if you control a planeswalker called Garruk Wildspeaker , put a 3/3 green Beast creature token into play. Play this ability only once per turn and only anytime you could play a sorcery". Or instant-speed levelup for Student of Warfare or Beastbreaker of Bala Ged . Or "7WW, tap: if you control a planeswalker called Elspeth Tirel destroy all permanents except for lands and tokens. Play...sorcery". All of the quest counter enchants that require more than one counter are better with proliferate. Not to mention little old +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters. Oh, and? you can do more one of those things at once.
Away from specific cards and mechanics and to ideas...I think that Wizards is trying to go back to the Rav-TS or similar standard in terms of sheer number of viable, 1st- or 1.5st-tier decks. Even just from the 30 cards spoiled already, there are an incredible number of possible decks when combined with existing cards, and more are sure to come. My personal guess is a very fluid, very rapidly changing, very complex metagame that will see at least 30 distinctly different, top-tier competitive decks before the second set in the block comes out.
September 6, 2010 5:34 p.m.
You know there have only been a few "Metalcraft" mechanic cards shown so far and both of those mechanics were shown on green. I am thinking its going to be greens Mechanic mostly. Not saying other cards wont have it I just think its going to be greens staple mechanic for this set and we can see so far It makes for some seriously huge creatures at a low CMC.
September 6, 2010 6:35 p.m.
Legacy decks are going to go crazy with Metalcraft considering all the artifact lands.
September 6, 2010 7:28 p.m.
SocialistElite says... #17
Rav-TS was my favorite standard environment EVER. I don't think it will ever really be recreated though, thanks to planeswalkers. Those things warp lives, not just formats.
September 6, 2010 10:49 p.m.
Quicksilver Gargantuan 5UU 7/7
Creature- Shapeshifter
You may have Quicksilver Gargantuan enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield, except it's 7/7.
Venser has a dangerous buddy, and I think he's gonna destroy games if there's a creature with infect out. Imagine him with Ichorclaw Myr, or some other creature nonsense, like Platinum Angel or Baneslayer Angel or even AEther Figment ! Im sure thee are better combos, but you get the idea.
September 7, 2010 5:30 a.m.
Holy crap... Yeah, have him copy an Infect creature then throw Distortion Strike on him! What the frick?!
September 7, 2010 8:50 a.m.
@ SocialistElite: I KNOW. so awesome. blink FTW. I don't think you can recreate it, but with enough planeswalker hose (BB: sorcery. destroy target nonland, noncreature permanent or something stupidly good like that) you can keep them in check enough to allow room to develop more archetypes. I mean, UW and Esper superfriends is going to happen, along with UW control, and other than that there's room for any one of a few dozen decks.
UBG ramp with Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon , Distortion Strike , Plague Stinger , and Quicksilver Gargantuan . Easy turn 6 kill.
That's the other thing the format is doing, i think - speeding up by about 2 turns on average for a midrange deck.
September 7, 2010 9:15 a.m.
merubhanot says... #21
The Gargantuan is bad. It's a conditional card, and it's really not that useful when you're losing. Also, it doesn't actually win the game at all. Think about other things with high costs (titans?). They get you value whether they are killed or not, and are good even when you have nothing in play. This is just nowhere near that good and it costs more in a format with Mana Leak and Destructive Force. Junk Rare.
September 7, 2010 9:35 a.m.
Merub, you miss underestimate Gargantuan. Think about it, he just flat copies -anything- and retains 7/7 while only costing 1 mana more than a titan. I'd take it, especially with some of the things like Vamp. Nighthawk (Think about it, lifelink, flying, deathtouch? That works!)
September 7, 2010 10:27 a.m.
@ Zylo: Sure you can copy something with infect then distortion strike it, but unless you triple distortion strike it, then the Blight Dragon is the same clock, but much earlier.
September 7, 2010 12:57 p.m.
@merubhanot, umm conditional?
Okay, let's use your example of the titans. What if for some reason the titan you have in your deck is completely useless for whatever reason? You see general creature cards can not adapt, however, Quicksilver Gargantuan CAN adapt. It can be whatever you want it to be, while still being a 7/7. Think of that copying a shade, or a regenerate, or infect, or a double strike, or a grafting creature! (Say it copied a Cytospawn Shambler , it'd be a 13/13 has G: trample)
What if your opponent had the best defensive blocker and you COULDN'T get past it no matter what, no Titan could get past it (I say titan because you're the one who compared Quicksilver Gargantuan to the titans), of but wait, it doesn't have flying or reach and you have a cump-flyer out like Suntail Hawk , now you play the gargantuan and suddenly you have a 77 flying that can get through your opponents defenses.
You seriously underestimate how powerful adaptability is, in fact thee human race would be like animals if we ourselves couldn't adapt.
September 7, 2010 12:58 p.m.
@asw122, uhh... And what if they have flying, huh? They'd be able to block the blight dragon. I'm pretty sure unblockable trumps flying. :)
September 7, 2010 1 p.m.
merubhanot says... #27
@Zylo
You're missing the point. The problem with the card is not it's potential, but how easily it can fail you. If you have nothing in play, it doesn't save you at all. For 7 mana you can cast game-winning spells like destructive force. Why would I play a card that is NEVER an out and is not a good topdeck. The card is the definition of win more.
Think about Mul Daya Channelers. I loved the card, but it never made a splash because no one was able to rely on it to do what they want when they wanted it. This card is like that, except much, much worse. At least both of mul daya's modes were powerful. This one can be horrible, and is a terrible topdeck. It also doesn't have haste, or any enter the battlefield effects naturally, so it offers no value unless it hits, sticks, and you have another creature with useful abilities always in play. That's way too much to ask for competitive. It won't see any serious play. Trust me.
September 7, 2010 1:19 p.m.
I can see where you are coming from, but if I were to play the gargantuan I would put it in a deck that I know it would be useful in. In almost any scenario there would be a great creature for it to copy, the exception would be if a day-of-judgement just went off. But even if your opponent killed all your creatures you can still copy their's. My point is that if one were to build a deck around a particular card, this would be a great card to base it around. I can just picture a great U/G deck that uses it along with clones that has high mana ramp and some other damgerous and useful creatures, but ones that would most benefit the gargantuan to copy, like something with trample or regenerate, or some crazy ability.
Also, disclaimer, I speak from a legacy opinion on things, not standard.
September 7, 2010 1:31 p.m.
merubhanot says... #29
I think I'll keep building my decks around Vengevine , but you're welcome to try this guy. Avenger of Zendikar strikes me as the only viable 7 drop in standard though. And this guy definitely has no chance in Legacy ;-)
September 7, 2010 1:45 p.m.
vox_of_jeebus says... #30
i can see gargantuan going in standard allies decks easily
September 7, 2010 2:29 p.m.
nammertime says... #31
Plague Singer > Swamp Mosquito , so I'm happy lol.
September 7, 2010 4:51 p.m.
SocialistElite says... #33
Im upset that the Mox Opal is legendary. Not for power reasons, more for flavor reasons. I mean, all the other Moxen were non-legendary, so idk. I feel like they should have dropped its legend status, and added "When Mox Opal comes into play, sacrifice an artifact." or something.
September 7, 2010 6 p.m.
I found Karn. This was taken from a Japanese version of the new ruling involving Karn. Have fun reading.
"Scars of Mirrodin" contains a "Artifact Planeswalker" card with the artifact in its type line. These are permanent, and artifacts as well as a planeswalker. They are an appropriate target for the effects of artifact affinity (artifacts), ability to count them as artifacts. "Artifact Planeswalker" loyalty ability, the ability to be run according to the same rules as non-artifact planeswalker loyalty.
Karn, Furnace Heart (4) Karn Artifact Planeswalker - Karn Karn is indestructible.
[+1]: Put a mechanized put a counter on target creature you control. (Creatures with mechanized counters on it are artifacts in addition to its other types, gets -4 / +4, has defender and is indestructible. )
[-1]: Put a 0/4 creature token into play battlefield that had defender and is indestructible.
[-5]: You may return any number of artifact cards from your graveyard to the battlefield under your control.
September 7, 2010 6:43 p.m.
I'm a little dubious on karn.
I'll wait till there is a conformation via official routes before I'll start crying tears about this.
Source: http://mtg-realm.blogspot.com/2010/08/som-spoilers-8-31.html
I call b/s... For now :)
September 7, 2010 7:18 p.m.
Yeah, that's kind of dumb to make a planeswalker indestructible.
September 7, 2010 8:32 p.m.
Mindslaver - 6
Legendary Artifact
4, T, Sacrifice Mindslaver: You control target player during that player's next turn.
September 7, 2010 8:45 p.m.
Contagion Engine - 6
Artifact
When Contagion Engine enters the battlefield, put a -1/-1 counter on each creature target player controls.
4, T: Proliferate, then Proliferate again.
Contagion Clasp has a big brother... Anyone else think that Vampire Hexmage is gonna go up in value?
September 7, 2010 9:29 p.m.
SocialistElite says... #39
M-M-M-MINDSLAVER!
Im hoping for some sweet new art too!
Maybe there will be a Contagion that costs 8, puts a -1/-1 and the proliferates three times?
September 7, 2010 11:32 p.m.
Platinum Emperion - 8CMC, 8/8
Your life total can't change. (You can't gain or lose life. You can't pay any amount of life except 0.)
September 8, 2010 12:50 a.m.
Obsidianconspiracy says... #42
This set is looking awesome. For anyone wishing to track the spoilers they are coming fast now
http://www.gatheringmagic.com/scars-of-mirrodin-spoilers-0249/
This site
Now get about to adding them to the Tappedout card collection please, so I can use Skithiryx, who is my new favourite black card to be in standard (Previous was tied between Ob Nixilis and Abbyssal Persecutor)
September 8, 2010 1:57 a.m.
Well in reality they only added like 3 new cards. They just released what the art on the new lands would be, that's why it looks like so many was just suddenly released.
September 8, 2010 10:20 a.m.
Myr Galvanizer Is just crazy... espicially with something like voltic-key...
Now all we need is something to replicate Myr's... Oh wait, there's Clone , Rite of Replication , Renegade Doppelganger , and the new clone, Quicksilver Gargantuan ...
Not forgetting the new found buddies, Trinket Mage and Grand Architect ...
Blue players no longer feel like the weakest link. Anyone else agree? :)
September 8, 2010 10:49 a.m.
Yes, I know I'm going to just make a myr trible deck and use Rite of Replication , and with them being myrs I'll have plenty of mana accel.
September 8, 2010 11:27 a.m.
@Obsidianconspiracy- not all of the images are up but the scars database is pretty up to date
September 8, 2010 11:58 a.m.
4thWarmasterKais says... #47
2 Myr Galvanizer + Palladium Myr = invinate mana combo :D Awesome!
September 8, 2010 12:24 p.m.
I saw that too. I made a myr deck using it and it has Myr Matrix so it has infinite myrs as well.
September 8, 2010 1:58 p.m.
So I forgot I had it set to private so here it is: Myr Myr on the Wall
Comments and suggestions would be great.
September 8, 2010 2:09 p.m.
Has anyone else noticed there have been very few "Metalcraft" cards and or green cards shown yet. I wonder what exactly would that mean.
Zungx says... #1
The only thing I cannot really think about is what green and red might be getting special in Scars, I can see black with infest, white and blue with the planeswalkers and artifacts, but what about green?
September 5, 2010 11:30 p.m.