Monk Actualist

[parallax]

Monk Actualist

Creature -- Human Monk
2/2
Spells can't be copied.

This card is based on Llanowar Shaman, which looked like it was intended to hose Tendrils-based decks. This is basically a storm-combo hoser. It also hits replicate and Izzet Guildmage. It would be a great hoser card to include in a set with Cascade, too. I would have wanted it to affect Isochron Scepter as well, but I think "Cards can't be copied." is a little vague or difficult to interpret.

I'm not sure whether this should be white or green. White is the rule-setting color, but green is an enemy of blue, which is the copying color. Green fits the flavor slightly better as green is more concerned with the "real world", whereas white is more idealistic.

[Illissius]

I like it better as white. Cool idea.

[Anusien]

Interesting.  Is this weak enough of a hosing ability to stay at 1W, or do we need WW?

By the way, I really like this ability, although it would take some FAQ explaining how this not just hoses Twincast, but also Isochron Scepter, storm, and other stuff.

[chrissss]

great card, it would be amazing against such decks.  I love it.

[parallax]

Interesting.  Is this weak enough of a hosing ability to stay at 1W, or do we need WW?

By the way, I really like this ability, although it would take some FAQ explaining how this not just hoses Twincast, but also Isochron Scepter, storm, and other stuff.

Actually, this doesn't stop Isochron Scepter as worded. Isochron Scepter copies a card, then allow you to play that card. It doesn't ever copy a spell. "Cards can't be copied." is another wording I've considered, but I'm not sure if it's quite right.

I think the hosing ability is narrow enough to remain at . It only effects certain mechanics. It's far less powerful than True Believer. It doesn't even completely negate most of the affected cards. Storm doesn't work, but you still get the original spell. Cascade as well.

[Matt]

#1, we don't want to include this in a cascade block because it woudl shut off the entire block. It would be like putting Extinction in Onslaught or Withered Wretch in Odyssey.

#2, there's probably a better way to hose copies. ", pay 1 life: Counter each spell that isn't a card" would be an example.

[parallax]

I can see your point on #1. You don't want to include a strong hoser for a major mechanic of a block. However, I have a few counterpoints: (A) Monk Actualist doesn't completely negate the effect of Cascade cards. It only stops them from being cascaded. Most of the cards with cascade are still useful without being copied. (B) The Tribal and Threshold mechanics encourage you to build an entire deck around them. You make a Goblin deck or a Threshold deck. Hosing those mechanics ends up hosing the entire deck. You wouldn't build a Cascade deck. Cascade cards are utility cards. They don't have any inherent synergy with each other. If you negate the Cascade cards, you will still have the rest of the deck to deal with.

I don't see it as being that bad. I think it has more in common with Stabilizer than Withered Wretch. Anyway, if it can't be printed in a cascade set, that's fine. That's a development issue, actually.

As for #2, "Spells can't be copied." is the most elegant, least wordy way to write the card.

[Anusien]

Stifle was printed in the same block as Tendrils and Brainfreeze.  I feel like having a hoser is a necessary balance.  I'd rather the more flexible version though, and do "Cards and spells can't be copied." I feel like it makes it more interesting.  Otherwise this is incredibly narrow and ultimately non-interesting.  For example, True Believer is much more compelling a card than Stabilizer, even though they're both narrow hosers.

[Matt]

A one-shot "hoser" isn't even close to the same as this. Slay is no Perish.

[Illissius]

"Cards and spells can't be copied."

This would require some reminder text so people don't get confused by Clone and such.

[parallax]

Cards that copy spells are always worded "Copy that spell." or something similar. Cards that copy other cards can have any number of wordings that might be confusing combined with "Cards can't be copied." For example, Kiki-Jiki puts a token into play as a copy of target creature. You would have to specify (in a FAQ or reminder text) that "Cards can't be copied." also means "Things can't come into play as copies" (Kiki-Jiki) and "Things can't become copies." (Cytoshape) and also that "Cards" includes creatures in play (unless they're tokens) even if the effect doesn't say "card". In other words, yes, it works within the rules, but it comes with a lot of baggage. Is it worth it?

Matt, what cards are you concerned about getting hosed? Cards with cascade still retain most of their usefulness even if they can't be copied. This is definitely stronger than Stifle at hosing storm, but it's still on par with True Believer. I think cascade would have to be very powerful (to the point where it needs to be hosed) before this would get played over a bear with a combat-related ability, such as Hand of Honor or White Shield Crusader.

[Matt]

True Believer only hoses 2 of the 10 storm cards.

[parallax]

True Believer only hoses 2 of the 10 storm cards.

2 of the 4 that ever get played. And the two most likely to cripple a deck if they're shut off. Are you worried that Monk Actualist is too good at hosing Desire?

[parallax]

Are there still problems with this card?

It's intended to hose storm combo. Most storm combo decks have bounce or creature removal available to deal with True Believer and Meddling Mage. This is just another tool that W/X aggro can use, and storm combo is prepared to deal with it.

It also hoses copying mechanics, such as Twincast, Izzet Guildmage, Replicate and Cascade. Of these, replicate and cascade still get the original copy of the card. Also, any given deck is likely to have only a few cards with replicate/cascade. The rest of the deck will be completely unaffected.

[Matt]

Blue and red are the copying colors. Their shared ally is black, and their shared enemies are green and white. Therefore this should be {G}.

Saying "well decks can just deal with it" is a really lame way to justify a strong hoser.