[Premium Article] So Many Insane Plays - Shadowmoor Set Review

[Smmenen]

http://www.starcitygames.com/php/news/article/15754.html

Stephen Menendian - 2008-04-21
So Many Insane Plays - Shadowmoor or Less? A Vintage Set Review
Read Stephen Menendian every Monday... at StarCityGames.com! Monday, April 21st - The Shadowmoor prerelease is now in the books, and Constructed minds now turn to the strengths and weaknesses of the fresh meat on offer. Stephen Menendian looks at the new set from a Vintage perspective, and analyses the cards with an eye on slotting them into Magic’s most broken format…

[TR]

Hi,

I'm a long time lurker, infrequent poster, and have always relied on your set reviews to give me a good overview of the newest set. Thank you again for a very nice article. I have one question concerning the Swans + Chain of Plasma combo, which should perhaps go into the rules forum (so mods feel free to move it there).

While resolving the first Chain the Swans prevent damage and put a card draw trigger on the stack (much like Gaea's Blessing goes on the stack during an Oath resolving). Chains continues to resolve and you make a copy of it on the stack by discarding a card in hand. Now this copy sits on top of the card draw and will resolve before you get new cards.

Am I missing something? Does Chains resolve in two parts somehow? Otherwise you will only draw 3 x (cards in hand) right after you can't copy the Chains anymore.

Edit: Oops, read the card again, Swans is  replacement effect not a triggered one. Sorry to bother everyone.

[GUnit]

I more or less agree with your list, but it's looking like painter's servant is going to find a home somewhere in the top 5 from the set. It's probably not that playable in a random environment, but as long as blue decks are dominant and abundant, maindecking red blasts will already net you +EV on the field, and the fact that you can also set up a reasonably cheap 2-card combo finish is just icing on the cake.

[Smmenen]

Painter's servant definitely crossed my radar.  I immediately thought of the 16 Blast Distorting Lens decks from like 2003/4.  Also, it can disrupt the use of Force of Will.   However, I didn't think of the Grindstone combo, which would have made it mention worthy.   

[wiley]

How exactly does it "disrupt the use of Force of Will"?

This is Painter's Servant's ability:
As Painter's Servant comes into play, choose a color.
All cards that aren't in play, spells, and permanents are the chosen color in addition to their other colors.

It specifically says in addition to, so the blue cards are still blue.  It can only aid FoW and MisD.\

Otherwise, I agree with the list except for the green blast.  I highly doubt it will find a good home anywhere in vintage, since you have to be playing either GW or GB in order to not have a better answer.  Awesome oddities with Vulturous Zombies aside, you don't see those decks running around much.

[LordHomerCat]

How exactly does it "disrupt the use of Force of Will"?

This is Painter's Servant's ability:
As Painter's Servant comes into play, choose a color.
All cards that aren't in play, spells, and permanents are the chosen color in addition to their other colors.

It specifically says in addition to, so the blue cards are still blue.  It can only aid FoW and MisD.\

Otherwise, I agree with the list except for the green blast.  I highly doubt it will find a good home anywhere in vintage, since you have to be playing either GW or GB in order to not have a better answer.  Awesome oddities with Vulturous Zombies aside, you don't see those decks running around much.

You could also be playing UBG or UBGw and not want to splash red as well to get your mirror cards, and so be able to play something like 3color GAT (or 3color Tyrant Oath) or even Grand Inquisitor's UBGw lists, and still have access to a blast.  The more I think about it, the stronger that seems.  I know that the only real red card I ran in Tyrant Oath last month was REB, so I could see just cutting the Volc altogether and playing G Response instead.