Sunastian Falconer

Legendary Creature — Human Shaman

{T}: Add {2} to your mana pool.

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
Oathbreaker	Legal
Oldschool 93/94	Legal
Planar Constructed	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (7)

DreadKhan on Which is More Important: Total …

4 months ago

In my limited experience, most decks want it's 'key pieces' to be as low to the ground as possible, this is why Night's Whisper is a very good card, it works in hands where you are short of key resources (but not so short that you couldn't risk the hand), and it's still completely worth playing if you draw it fairly late in the game; drawing 2 cards is almost universally a good thing, and only paying 1B to do it means you can either play it early or play it late and follow it up with something you drew. In contrast a card like Tower of Fortunes is a trap in almost every list because you need to input a grand total of 12 mana to draw ANY cards, meaning it's a dead card until you can generate 8 mana in one turn. That makes the card a lot worse in practice, since every game has early turns and only some games go long enough for Tower to really shine.

The same is true about ramping, something like Utopia Sprawl (or Crop Rotation might fit better lol) is incredibly efficient, it can be played turn 1 in many games and if it's drawn late it's literally mana neutral, making it a 'free roll' in decks that can count on having a Forest early. In contrast Explosive Vegetation is unplayable turn 1 in almost any situation, ditto for turn 2, and you will need to have ramped to play it by turn 3. This means that if you're stuck on 2 lands something like Farseek could find you a key land but Explosive Veggies will just sit there making you feel stupid. This makes Explosive Veggies a relatively unimpressive card, and that's why you don't see as much ramp that costs more than 3 (and many Spikey players hate paying more than 2 for ramp), it plays a lot worse in hands that would otherwise be keeps, and they can actually cost you games.

In contrast though there are 'value cards' (usually MV 4-6), these aren't necessarily going to win the game by themselves but these are important in metas that don't expect anyone to win too early. These types of cards can cost more mana because they're doing a lot, but most deck builders quickly realize you can only include so many of this type of card, specifically because they WILL clog your early hands. These types of cards drive up your average MV, most people like something in the 2.5-3.5 range (most prefer lower fwiw). It's worth noting that spells that cost 7-10 mana are often WAY more powerful, but most of these aren't necessary to win games, and due to their sky high MV these are even worse about clogging your hand. People are generally fine with Expropriate from a power level perspective, even if many find it boring, but I think a plurality of decks that are power level 7 and up eschew big mana stuff because they don't need it, if you can win with Rite of the Raging Storm then you don't need Expropriate. In cEDH people actually skew even lower on MVs, especially Ad Nauseam lists, and it turns out it's very possible to win games using almost nothing but MV 2 and under stuff, and unsurprisingly these incredibly fast and low to the ground win cons are the most powerful.

Ultimately the less resources you need to put into an effect the better that effect. It's equally true that all things being equal doing the exact same thing a turn earlier is MUCH better, and it keeps getting better each turn sooner (in an exponential manner). The complication for me is that cards aren't very equal, and it's actually possible to build decks that assiduously ignore all of the conventions I mentioned here (my Pavel Maliki deck has 17 5 drops and an average MV of 4.20, while my Sunastian Falconer deck has a gobsmacking MV of 5.35, both are functional decks IMHO) if you simply run better cards that have relatively high MVs, and run enough of them that you will consistently have one or more to choose from. The Pavel deck happily runs some stuff like Omen of Fire that can be completely dead because the deck can usually afford to have dead cards and still be a threat, and the Sunastian deck runs some pretty derpy 'big' creatures, many aren't even cost effective, it just doesn't matter because if you have enough huge creatures it doesn't matter if you paid extra for them, they're still huge creatures that will stomp the opponent into gravy! In effect both decks win the games they win via scale, Pavel tends to have a lot of cards that trade for multiple cards, and Sunastian's effects are often so bulky that they just go right over other decks.

Even in 1v1 some of my weird Legacy decks sneak in some pretty high MV cards, and often these cards can steal games when I'm in topdeck mode (in Legacy anything over MV 2 is considered 'really high' fwiw), even if they cost me a few when I draw terribly and have 5 3 drops in my first 9 cards and I scoop. Ball Lightning is a really bad card by many metrics, but if you playtest a Burn deck in throw one or two in they WILL steal the odd game due to card efficiency (Burn's biggest problem has always been running out of Bolts).

DaringApprentice on All Possible Commanders

8 years ago

These are all the Azorius commanders I could find that weren't in your list: Ayesha Tanaka, Gosta Dirk, Hunding Gjornersen, Ith, High Arcanist, Jedit Ojanen, Kasimir the Lone Wolf, and Tobias Andrion.

These are all the Dimir commanders I could find that weren't in your list: Circu, Dimir Lobotomist, Nebuchadnezzar, Princess Lucrezia, Ramirez DePietro, Riven Turnbull, Sivitri Scarzam, and Ur-Drago.

These are all the Rakdos commanders I could find that weren't in your list: Axelrod Gunnarson, Barktooth Warbeard, Lady Orca, Pavel Maliki, Rakdos the Defiler, and Rohgahh of Kher Keep.

These are all the Gruul commanders I could find that weren't in your list: Jerrard of the Closed Fist, Livonya Silone, Marhault Elsdragon, Stangg, Sunastian Falconer, and The Lady of the Mountain.

These are all the Selesnya commanders I could find that weren't in your list: Daughter of Autumn, Gabriel Angelfire, Jasmine Boreal, Kei Takahashi, Lady Caleria, Lord Magnus, Sir Shandlar of Eberyn, and Torsten Von Ursus.

These are all the Orzhov commanders I could find that weren't in your list: Selenia, Dark Angel.

These are all the Golgari commanders I could find that weren't in your list: Iname as One, Rhys the Exiled, and Thelon of Havenwood.

These are all the Boros commanders I could find that weren't in your list: Munda, Ambush Leader.

These are all the Grixis commanders I could find that weren't in your list: Mishra, Artificer Prodigy.

These are all the Jund commanders I could find that weren't in your list: Bartel Runeaxe.

These are all the Naya commanders I could find that weren't in your list: Jacques le Vert.

These are all the Five-Colored commanders I could find that weren't in your list: Atogatog.

Phaetion on 20 Legends, 5 Decks

9 years ago

Wow, I did not notice that. I think they meant tap, but someone screwed up. Sunastian Falconer is broken! Get him while he's cheap!

NoNeedToBragoBoutIt on 20 Legends, 5 Decks

9 years ago

Hmm, that's something different for once! I think out of the bunch you should only consider the ones with abilities. My ranking of potential would be:

1.Sunastian Falconer - combine ramp and ability plus burn spells for a fattie deck

2.Pavel Maliki - solid ability, aggressive colors

3.Tor Wauki - okay ability, aggressive colors

4.Princess Lucrezia - classic colors, okay ability

5.Riven Turnbull - see above, slighty higher CMC

6.Lord Magnus - great colors, somewhat limited abilities

7.Ramirez DePietro - good flavor,great colors, nothing to really build on

8.Marhault Elsdragon - good colors, could be build into a force block/attack somehow

9.Hunding Gjornersen - see above, less aggressive colors

If you want to run as many as you can you could include the fitting ones into your deck(s) ofc.

DemonDragonJ on Commander 2016 Wishlist/Speculation

9 years ago

With a new year having begun, a new Commander set shall soon be released, so I wish to begin speculation about what cards this years set may contain. I know that it may be too early to begin discussing such a subject, but I still wish to do it, nevertheless, simply to express some of my ideas and wishes for the set.

Covered due to great length Show

Given that last year's (2015's) set contained decks of the five enemy-colored combinations, I shall speculate that this year's set shall contain five decks of the allied-color combinations. First, regarding mana generation/mana base, I expect that each deck shall contain the guildgates, "bouncelands," keystones, keyrunes, and/or signets of the corresponding guild of Ravnica, since nearly every previous Commander deck has contained those. As usual, I really would like to see what I consider to be "good" dual lands in these decks (i.e., the shocklands and filter lands), but I shall not expect them to be printed in this set, since WotC has rarely ever printed "good" dual lands in any sets outside of normal blocks and core sets.

Since every Commander set thus far has had three face cards per deck, with two being new and one being a reprint, I expect that this set shall, as well. For the reprints, I would like to see Chorus of the Conclave, Grand Arbiter Augustin IV, and Szadek, Lord of Secrets, but they have all been reprinted recently, and Geist of Saint Traft shall soon be reprinted, so I doubt that any of them shall be in this set. However, sets such as this a great places to reprint older, obscure cards that may never be reprinted in any other set, so some possible ideas for this set may be Hanna, Ship's Navigator, Hunding Gjornersen, Medomai the Ageless, Gabriel Angelfire, Gaddock Teeg, Karametra, God of Harvests (unlikely due to being too recent and also a goddess), Krond the Dawn-Clad, Saffi Eriksdotter, Sigarda, Host of Herons, Tolsimir Wolfblood, Grimgrin, Corpse-Born, Nebuchadnezzar, Oona, Queen of the Fae, Princess Lucrezia, Riven Turnbull, Ramirez DePietro, Vela the Night-Clad, Wydwen, the Biting Gale, Kaervek the Merciless, Mogis, God of Slaughter, Pavel Maliki (because not every general in these sets can be uber-powerful), Tsabo Tavoc, Borborygmos, Marhault Elsdragon, Radha, Heir to Keld, Rosheen Meanderer, Stonebrow, Krosan Hero, Sunastian Falconer, or Ulasht, the Hate Seed. I am sorry about that long list, but there are so many possible choices for reprinted generals in this set, and I cannot limit my preferences to only a small number of them.

As for other cards, I definitely would like to see Absorb, Backlash, Eladamri's Call, Essence Vortex, Aura Mutation or Artifact Mutation, as those are all old cards that have never been reprinted. Seedborn Muse is also practically a necessity, since the banning of Prophet of Kruphix in this format shall greatly increase demand for that card.

I imagine that both Sol Ring and Temple of the False God shall be reprinted in this set, but I would rather that they not be, since they each have already been printed enough times. Instead, it would be great to have a reprint of Chromatic Lantern, since I believe that that card is overdue for a reprint, and it is essential for any multi-colored EDH deck. I also imagine that Command Tower shall be reprinted, again, as well.

Since Privileged Position has never been reprinted, and thus, is now very expensive, this set would be the perfect place to reprint it, and I also imagine that the white/green deck shall have at least some emphasis on gaining life, so either Dawnglow Infusion and Oracle of Nectars may be in it. Mirari's Wake would also be awesome, but, that card has been reprinted several times, in the recent past, so I doubt that WotC shall reprint it, again, so soon.

I would like to see Ring of Three Wishes in this set, simply to increase its availability and thus decrease its price, and it is a very useful card for this format.

I am certain that the black/blue deck shall have at least some emphasis on "milling" (but, hopefully, that shall not be its only strategy and identity), so I believe that Consuming Aberration and Mindcrank would be great for that deck.

Archon of the Triumvirate and Iridescent Angel would both be great for the blue/white deck, and both Decimate and Dragonlair Spider would be great for the red/green deck, as well.

I have much more speculation to make, but I shall stop, for now, and allow others to discuss this subject. What are your wishes and guesses for this year's Commander set, in terms of both reprinted cards and new cards?

sonnet666 on Commanders by Power Level [EDH Tier List]

9 years ago

Almost got it in three hours, I'm only like 20 minutes late.

Assuming a 6 tier system:

To be moved from T5 to T6: (Rationale: french-vanilla, overcosted with no pay-off, or just vitually no effect on the game.)

Akuta, Born of Ash, Anthousa, Setessan Hero, Baron Sengir, Bartel Runeaxe, Boris Devilboon, Cho-Manno, Revolutionary, Arcades Sabboth, Atogatog, Chromium, Circu, Dimir Lobotomist, Cloudhoof Kirin, Commander Greven il-Vec, Crovax the Cursed, Dakkon Blackblade, Daughter of Autumn, Gabriel Angelfire, Gallowbraid, Gosta Dirk, Grandmother Sengir, Haakon, Stromgald Scourge, Halfdane, Hazduhr the Abbot, Hivis of the Scale, Huang Zhong, Shu General, Hunding Gjornersen, Ihsan's Shade, Irini Sengir, Ishi-Ishi, Akki Crackshot, Iwamori of the Open Fist, Jacques le Vert, Kei Takahashi, Kentaro, the Smiling Cat, Lady Caleria, Liu Bei, Lord of Shu, Livonya Silone, Lord Magnus, Ma Chao, Western Warrior, Marhault Elsdragon, Morinfen, Myojin of Cleansing Fire, Myojin of Life's Web, Orim, Samite Healer, Palladia-Mors, Pang Tong, "Young Phoenix", Pavel Maliki, Princess Lucrezia, Purraj of Urborg, Rashida Scalebane, Rashka the Slayer, Reveka, Wizard Savant, Riven Turnbull, Rohgahh of Kher Keep, Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked, Sima Yi, Wei Field Marshal, Soraya the Falconer, Spirit of the Night, Stangg, Taniwha, Tarox Bladewing, Telim'Tor, Tuknir Deathlock, Tuktuk the Explorer, Ur-Drago, Vaevictis Asmadi, Veldrane of Sengir, Xun Yu, Wei Advisor, Yukora, the Prisoner, Zhang Liao, Hero of Hefei, Zhao Zilong, Tiger General, Zhou Yu, Chief Commander, Zuberi, Golden Feather.

(I left out Ramirez DePietro because I just didn't have the heart to be the one to demote him. I mean, come on, he's a pirate. Pirates should get their own tier...)

Moved from T4 to T5: (Rationale: mediocre voltron stats w/ limited defensive or evasion abilities, effects that don't have a strong effect on the game.)

Arashi, the Sky Asunder, Adamaro, First to Desire, Alexi, Zephyr Mage, Atalya, Samite Master, Autumn Willow, Ayumi, the Last Visitor, Balthor the Stout, Bounteous Kirin, Cabal Patriarch, Cao Ren, Wei Commander, Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh  ^Flip, Commander Eesha, Daghatar the Adamant, Diaochan, Artful Beauty, Dong Zhou, the Tyrant, Eron the Relentless, Fumiko the Lowblood, Geist of Saint Traft, Gerrard Capashen, Ghost Council of Orzhova, He Who Hungers, Heidar, Rimewind Master, Higure, the Still Wind, Iizuka the Ruthless, Iname as One, Iname, Life Aspect, Isao, Enlightened Bushi, Infernal Kirin, Jareth, Leonine Titan, Jedit Ojanen of Efrava, Jiwari, the Earth Aflame, Kamahl, Pit Fighter, Karona, False God, Kami of the Crescent Moon, Kaysa, Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs, Kiyomaro, First to Stand, Kiku, Night's Flower, Kodama of the North Tree, Kumano, Master Yamabushi, Korlash, Heir to Blackblade, Kuon, Ogre Ascendant, Lady Evangela, Lady Sun, Latulla, Keldon Overseer, Linessa, Zephyr Mage, Llawan, Cephalid Empress, Lovisa Coldeyes, Masako the Humorless, Masumaro, First to Live, Munda, Ambush Leader, Ob Nixilis, the Fallen, Oyobi, Who Split the Heavens, Oriss, Samite Guardian, Pianna, Nomad Captain, Pharika, God of Affliction, Polukranos, World Eater, Radiant, Archangel, Ragnar, Rakdos the Defiler, Rayne, Academy Chancellor, Rorix Bladewing, Ruhan of the Fomori, Sensei Golden-Tail, Shauku, Endbringer, Shisato, Whispering Hunter, Silvos, Rogue Elemental, Slobad, Goblin Tinkerer, Sosuke, Son of Seshiro, Squee, Goblin Nabob, Starke of Rath, Sun Ce, Young Conquerer, Sunastian Falconer, Tahngarth, Talruum Hero, Tajic, Blade of the Legion, Takeno, Samurai General, Thriss, Nantuko Primus, Tymaret, the Murder King, Vhati il-Dal, Vorosh, the Hunter, Zhang Fei, Fierce Warrior, Zurgo Bellstriker.

Moved from T4 to T6: (Rationale: a combination of the last two. These guys really didn't belong in T4 in the first place.)

Guan Yu, Sainted Warrior, Hakim, Loreweaver, Hikari, Twilight Guardian, Kodama of the Center Tree, Kuro, Pitlord, Kongming, "Sleeping Dragon", Maga, Traitor to Mortals, Mannichi, the Fevered Dream, Meng Huo, Barbarian King, Nagao, Bound by Honor, Obzedat, Ghost Council, Patron of the Nezumi, Patron of the Kitsune, Tivadar of Thorn, Zhang He, Wei General, Zuo Ci, the Mocking Sage.

Moved from T3 to T4: (Rationale: Just basing this off of my experience with the commanders and the synergies available to them. Trying to split into Good Tier and Average Tier. Priorities for Good Tier: commanders that have built in methods of dodging removal and disruption (e.g. Thrun, the Last Troll), and commanders who's strategies quick swing the board out of proportion if left unchecked (e.g. Rakdos, Lord of Riots).)

Adun Oakenshield, Akroma, Angel of Fury, Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit, Angus Mackenzie, Anowon, the Ruin Sage, Athreos, God of Passage, Balthor the Defiled, Baru, Fist of Krosa, Borborygmos Enraged, Bosh, Iron Golem, Crovax, Ascendant Hero, Dragonlord Atarka, Dragonlord Dromoka, Dragonlord Silumgar, Dralnu, Lich Lord, Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief, Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder, Erebos, God of the Dead, Ertai, Wizard Adept, Feldon of the Third Path, Gahiji, Honored One, Garza Zol, Plague Queen, Godo, Bandit Warlord, Heliod, God of the Sun, Homura, Human Ascendant, Iname, Death Aspect, Isperia, Supreme Judge, Jace, Vryn's Prodigy  ^Flip, Jenara, Asura of War, Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur, Jolrael, Empress of Beasts, Jori En, Ruin Diver, Kaervek the Merciless, Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas, Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet, Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund, Kaseto, Orochi Archmage, Keranos, God of Storms, Kodama of the South Tree, Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury, Kothophed, Soul Hoarder, Kozilek, the Great Distortion, Kresh the Bloodbraided, Lavinia of the Tenth, Lazav, Dimir Mastermind, Liliana, Heretical Healer  ^Flip, Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero, Mangara of Corondor, Marrow-Gnawer, Mayael the Anima, Mirri the Cursed, Mogis, God of Slaughter, Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer, Nahiri, the Lithomancer, Nin, the Pain Artist, Nissa, Vastwood Seer  ^Flip, Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius, Norin the Wary, Nylea, God of the Hunt, Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath, Olivia Voldaren, Patron of the Akki, Patron of the Orochi, Pia and Kiran Nalaar, Radha, Heir to Keld, Reki, the History of Kamigawa, Sapling of Colfenor, Skullbriar, the Walking Grave, Surrak Dragonclaw, Surrak, the Hunt Caller, Sygg, River Cutthroat, Tariel, Reckoner of Souls, Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, Thraximundar, Thromok the Insatiable, Toshiro Umezawa, Trostani, Selesnya's Voice, Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger, Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre, Ulasht, the Hate Seed, Urabrask the Hidden, Varolz, the Scar-Striped, Vendilion Clique, Venser, Shaper Savant, Visara the Dreadful, Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger, Wrexial, the Risen Deep, Xira Arien, Yasova Dragonclaw, Yeva, Nature's Herald, Yisan, the Wanderer Bard, Zada, Hedron Grinder, Zo-Zu the Punisher, Zurgo Helmsmasher.

Sorry for the lack of spoilers. They don't seem to work on my browser, and I don't want to just type in code and hope for the best.

NarejED on Commanders by Power Level [EDH Tier List]

9 years ago

Whelp, time to try to tackle Tier 4. I won't look too deeply it most card's placement though due to how little these commanders are used.

Akuta, Born of Ash --> Tier 5

Crosis, the Purger --> Possibly tier 3. He plays fairly well in a control shell, and can decimate mono-colored decks when used properly.

Dakkon Blackblade --> Tier 5. Garbage.

Dromar, the Banisher --> Tier 3. See Crosis.

Halfdane --> Tier 5

Joven --> Tier 5. As hilarious as his artwork is, there's nothing here.

Lady Zhurong, Warrior Queen --> Tier 5

Lieutenant Kirtar --> Tier 5

Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms --> Tier 5

Lu Meng, Wu General --> Tier 5

Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest --> Tier 3. It's quite easy to go infinite with him and overrun each opponent with an enormous creature at the same time.

Meloku the Clouded Mirror --> Tier 5

Merieke Ri Berit: I've seen a lot of debate about this commander here, and to a lesser extent in the previous. I personally think Tier 4 is fair for her, but I can see the justification to bump her up. She can prey upon more casual tables fairly easily. I'll side with the general consensus and vote that she be moved to tier 3.

Mistform Ultimus --> Tier 5. Any combos built with him would be woefully inefficient. Aside from a few extremely niche scenarios, I can't see him being of any value to a deck whatsoever.

Nin, the Pain Artist --> Tier 3. Surprisingly, she's fairly strong. Removal and card advantaged as needed for the low drop cost of 2 mana. As far as I know, the best build for her is a control shell that uses the classic Deadeye Navigator + Palinchron combo to win. Nin herself helps in the mid and early game by pinging opponent's key utility creatures to death and sacking her own smaller creatures for hefty hand refills. In other words, she plays like a much weaker Damia, Sage of Stone, having a lesser color identity and weaker ability.

Noyan Dar, Roil Shaper --> Tier 3. He's essentially a slightly Talrand, Sky Summoner with a superior color identity. No reason for him to not be in the same tier as his merfolk kinsman.

Rakdos, Lord of Riots --> Tier 3. The casting restriction hurts a little, but the Animar-esque ability to cast Eldrazis and other enormous creatures for free makes him moderately successful.

Savra, Queen of the Golgari --> Tier 3. Reasons previously stated.

Sen Triplets --> Tier 3. By themselves, they are fairly mediocre. They are not played for their ability to steal cards though. Instead, they're used for their ability to Silence an opponent. Until Oloro was released, Triplets were the premiere commander for Esper Ad Nauseam and other combo decks, as their ability allowed them to prevent opponent most likely to interrupt their combo from interacting. Oloro ultimately proved to be marginally stronger in this regard due to his infuriating life gain and ability to play king of the pillow fort until he could assemble his combo. The Triplets are still an extremely viable alternative though, much as Sliver Queen is a viable alternative to Scion of the Ur-Dragon for 5C combo. Definitely worthy of a Tier 3 placement.

Soramaro, First to Dream --> Tier 5. Almost straight junk, despite blue's draw power.

Soraya the Falconer --> Tier 5.

Spirit of the Night --> Tier 5.

Sunastian Falconer --> Tier 5.

Surrak Dragonclaw --> Tier 3. Surprisingly relevant abilities in a sturdy color identity, particularly if blue control is dominant at the table. He's obviously strictly weaker than Animar, but he's still quite usuable at lower levels of play.

Tariel, Reckoner of Souls: Extremely borderline. I vote Tier 3, though she would be at the lower end of it. When used correctly, she can be fairly effective in smaller matches, but she grows weaker the larger the table is due to the random nature of her ability. She also does poorly at higher levels of play simply because big, durdly creatures are played less often and thus she has fewer relevant targets.

Admittedly, she's stronger than a fair portion of the current Tier 3 list, but that will be changed later with any luck as the Tier is further refined.