Polukranos, World Eater, correct wording.
General forum
Posted on Aug. 15, 2013, 9:20 a.m. by thilon
XXG: Monstrosity X. (If this creature isnt monstrous, put X +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)When Polukranos, World Eater becomes monstrous, it deals X damage divided as you choose among any number of target creatures your opponents control. Each of those creatures deals damage equal to its power to Polukranos.
From the MTGSalvation thread. This is weird. We don't understand Monstrous just yet, so stay tuned to see if it does anything significant/can be reused somehow.
It really should, but that's what was posted. Monstrous/Monstrosity are the same thing in this case, so it works like you said. It's 1 time thing, unless you can somehow remove Monstrosity in Theros.
August 15, 2013 9:39 a.m.
It still seems weird. The ability doesn't differentiate between gaining counters from its own ability and gaining counters elsewhere. The New World Order that Wizards has put into place is supposed to make things less confusing and easier to follow, but this creature makes you keep track of whether or not you already activated its ability. In essence, you would need a way to keep track of its counters AND its Monstrosity status.
I think it'd be more likely to have the reminder text changed one of two ways:
This creature gains +X/+X and Monstrosity until end of turn
or add the clause
So long as this creature has a +1/+1 counter on it, it has Monstrosity
August 15, 2013 10 a.m.
Tell me about it. I hope this isn't the final text. Still, this is better then the previous Mockup by far in terms of understanding.
August 15, 2013 10:04 a.m.
RussischerZar says... #6
Anyway, it's a very underwhelming ability. 5 mana for 2 damage and probably way more to itself is rather bad. Unless the monstrous stuff interacts with something else.
August 15, 2013 10:57 a.m.
Or if Monstrous can somehow be removed. A repeatable version of this would be handy. :)
August 15, 2013 11:06 a.m.
Schuesseled says... #9
Great for shooting weenies and dorks, not for much else. Although a 5/5 for 4, that can get bigger and kill a bunch of dorks/weenies or a single larger creature is quite nice.
August 15, 2013 12:41 p.m.
The reminder text should not read Monstrosity, it should read monstrous. Monstrosity is the keyword ability, monstrous is a term much like equipped or imprinted or encoded. The creature already has Monstrosity; it only becomes monstrous once Monstrosity is activated.
August 15, 2013 2:48 p.m.
As a side note, Monstrosity is actually a pretty neat ability in and of itself. Remember, as it stands Monstrosity simply means "put a bunch of counters on this creature"; it's the individual creature that has a triggered ability when it becomes monstrous. While Polukranos uses it in a mediocre way, we may see other creatures (like other hydras, minotaurs, and other monsters) use it in much more exciting ways.
Polukranos by itself is a 5/5 for 4 that you can just sink mana into and possibly use as removal. Not bad at all, but not really new or exciting.
August 15, 2013 2:55 p.m.
If "Monstrosity" is the keyword, then the reminder text would not change the form of the word. Instead, the sentence would be worded in a way so that "Monstrosity" makes sense.
For example, the reminder text on Indestructibility which says Effects that say "destroy" don't destroy that permanent. A creature with indestructible can't be destroyed by damage. If you go by the wording of Monstrosity, then Indestructibility should say "A creature that is indestructible..." but instead the text was arranged to suit to use of "indestructible" as a noun instead of an adjective.
August 15, 2013 3:14 p.m.
The term monstrous isn't like the term indestructible, it's like the term encoded from the Cipher mechanic. Indestructible is a static ability, like trample or lifelink. Monstrosity is an activated ability that grants the creature the status of "monstrous", like Cipher gives the exiled card the status of "encoded".
August 15, 2013 3:19 p.m.
The words Monstrosity and monstrous are two completely different, although linked, things. The term "monstrous" might as well be "huge" or "scary" or "butter"; it's a made up condition of the creature that is granted to it by its activated ability, Monstrosity.
August 15, 2013 3:23 p.m.
Also, checking the MTG Salvation thread, it looks like the cost for its ability is not XXG, but XGG, which makes it a LOT better.
Source: thread
August 15, 2013 3:46 p.m.
@Goody
Whoops, I'm sorry. I forgot to give the updated version. It changes so much. :S
August 15, 2013 4:02 p.m.
Also, the new version deals X damage divided, knocking it back down in terms of it's power. Still good for shooting dorks and utility guys.
August 15, 2013 4:03 p.m.
I think it's always been divided, but it's still really good if the cost is XGG. You can drop it turn 3, and deal 3 damage divided as you choose and have an 8/8 swinging turn 4. I can see it getting play with this wording, especially if there are any cards that synergize with monstrous creatures in the set.
August 15, 2013 4:06 p.m.
MatthewOry says... #19
Turn 1 Manadork or Turn 2 Farseek...Turn 3 PolukranosTurn 4 Kalonian Hydra (Swing with world eater for 5)Turn 5 Pump Polukranos for +2/+2 and kill a 2/2 or two 1/1's...(Three counters if you get extra ramp on both turn 1 and two)...
Swing with Polukranos and Kalonian Hydra polukranos = 9/9 or 11/11 and Kalonian is an 8/8 with trample.. its a pretty decent one-two punch. If its XGG cost.. this is even more insane on turn 5 doing 4 damage and turning the 5/5 with 4 counters into a 5/5 with 8 counters.. mmm I like it.
August 16, 2013 7:32 a.m.
Wow. If that ends up being the actual text...well, XGG is much, much better than XXG. It becomes a seriously playable card.
We'll see how many more times the rumors change and what the final text is, but I'm hopeful.
August 16, 2013 10 a.m.
sigh The official spoiler on the MTGSal thread is now XXG. It seems it's one or the other. They just keep flipping back and forth on the mana cost.
August 16, 2013 10:30 a.m.
only time will tell, I just hope I can find a game store when I goto Ont.
meecht says... #2
Shouldn't the reminder text say something like If this creature doesn't have Monstrosity, put X +1/+1 counters on it and it gains Monstrosity?
August 15, 2013 9:36 a.m.