[Single Card Discussion] Chromatic Star

[Burntgerbil]

Chromatic Star                  1
   
Artifact
1,{T}, Sacrifice Chromatic Star: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
When Chromatic Star is put into a graveyard from play, draw a card.

I know what I thought when I read this... wait, isn't that a chromatic sphere ?
well in case you don't feel like looking, the difference is the sphere gives you card after activating.

Granted, It has been awhile since I last played welders, but will this card's graveyard ability to draw a card when welded cause people to test them in any welder-based deck ? Also, it serves as chromatic sphere 5 - 8 for any deck that could possibly need them. (Do any ?) It seems to me that if the deck had a few slots to spare, I would try it in any welder deck to test this possibility.

Or perhaps this heralds the genesis of some second or lower tier deck that runs these like the egg decks - I see something with a helm of awakening and a storm card, maybe ?

I guess I am excited about TS and am really hoping the game doesn't jump the shark with this one.

[MuzzonoAmi]

2-Land Belcher (at least my build) always ran 1-2 Barbed Sextant for additional mana fixing. Unless GT is restricted soon, I don't see any Chromaspheres showing up in combo, much less these.

[Katzby]

As has been pointed out by somebody smarter than me, Chromatic Sphere also has seen some play in at least one non-combo deck: Affinity.  While I agree that this probably won't show up in many combo decks anytime soon, let us not forget about the card's other applications.

Katzby

[Machinus]

I really like this card. I'm also glad we're going to see a higher number of cantrips in sets from now on.

[forests failed you]

It is probably better than Sphere in Rav Affinity, because you can sack it and draw a card.  I could also see it being useful in two land Belcher.  The interaction with Welder is interesting, however Sensei's Divining Top doesn't see a ton of play in Welder decks, especially Drain based ones, so I can't imagine Star will.

More than likely, the impact of Chromatic Star in Vintage will be that it is Chromatic Spheres 6-8, or some number inbetween, in fast storm based combo decks.  The fast cantrip is better than the slow trip of sextent, although in most of those types of decks, it isn't better than Sphere because you can't cantrip it while you are Yawgmoth's Willing.  However, once you are resolving a Will you probably don't need more cards to win; rather you are just recasting the Stars to build lethal Stars before you tutor from the bin for Tendrils.

[Tobi]

The difference to Chromatic Sphere is also that you can use the mana it produces to play a mystical or vampiric tutor in response to the draw-card trigger. This was not possible with Chromatic Sphere because the card drawing was part of the ability.
Also, the crad drawing can be stifled if it is a triggered ability.

The fact that you cannot cantrip it in a Yawgmoth's Will turn makes it much weaker in storm combo than Chromatic Sphere, because you need the card-draw very often with Mystical/Vampiric/Imperial.

[Based]

It also has nice synergy with Tinker and even Welder, though I guess there are normally plenty of artifacts on the field anyway.

[Liek]

Some Extended Affinity decks last season ran Terrarion over Chromatic Sphere, because it could make BB to attach Cranial Plating and it was a better topdeck than Sphere (it grows Ravager and draws a card, while Sphere can only do one of those.)

If your Vintage deck contains Chromatic Sphere, it should be replaced with the Star. The slight difference makes the card better, even if all you do is sacrifice it to Smokestack and draw a card, it's better than Chromatic Sphere.

[Liam-K]

Well it's going to be better than Darkwater Egg in meandeck tendrils.  I don't think anyone else ever picks that up anymore though.  You should.  It reminds you to look at your hand and see what's there after you resolve your spell(s) rather than the spells themselves.  Like in chess, you look how the board would be after you make a trade rather than the pieces leaving the board.

[parallax]

Some Extended Affinity decks last season ran Terrarion over Chromatic Sphere, because it could make BB to attach Cranial Plating and it was a better topdeck than Sphere (it grows Ravager and draws a card, while Sphere can only do one of those.)

If your Vintage deck contains Chromatic Sphere, it should be replaced with the Star. The slight difference makes the card better, even if all you do is sacrifice it to Smokestack and draw a card, it's better than Chromatic Sphere.

It depends on your deck. (A) In Ravager, this card does not produce , so it's probably worse than Terrarion. It's obviously strictly better than Sphere in that deck. (B) In combo, where Chromatic Sphere usually sees play, Sphere is better than Star due to its synergy will Yawgmoth's Will. The chance of Star going to the graveyard when you're not getting mana from it is tiny. (C) In Stax or another deck, Star would be better, but I don't believe Stax runs Chromatic Sphere.

Well it's going to be better than Darkwater Egg in meandeck tendrils.  I don't think anyone else ever picks that up anymore though.  You should.  It reminds you to look at your hand and see what's there after you resolve your spell(s) rather than the spells themselves.  Like in chess, you look how the board would be after you make a trade rather than the pieces leaving the board.

I don't think Chromatic Star is better than Darkwater Egg in Meandeck Tendrils. Smemmen has already stated that Darkwater Egg > Chromatic Sphere because it gives you two colored mana rather than one off Mana Crypt, Mana Vault, etc. Also, Yawgmoth's Will synergy for Egg.

[carlossb]

Well it's going to be better than Darkwater Egg in meandeck tendrils.

From Meandeck Tendrils Primer Part 2: The Card Choices

Subsequent testing revealed that Darkwater Egg was often better than Chromatic Sphere - much to my surprise.

[/url]

[That0neguy]

Isn't the only time this is better than darkwater egg when you need to fuel multiple colorless mana (off color mox mana included) through the egg?  Because if this is the case it seems that this should be better than the egg every time you don't have mana vault, 2 off color moxen and a mana vault mana crypt and an off color mox, or all 3 off color moxen.  So too me it seems that this should probably replace the egg, because I know Ive been slowed down becasue I couln't activate the egg or I have needed double black off an egg and the egg filters my black mana to blue.  This also dosn't take into count the tutor trick or the fact that you do have spells that take colorles mana, often negating the above examples.

If not if It doesn't replace egg it should definatly replace chromesphere becasue of the tutor trick.

[Liam-K]

re: darkwater egg, I usually find I'm happier with sphere.  I'm not sure why that is.  I've probably messed with it less but I'd personally run the star.  I find the instances when you have and need are more than the instances when you have and care about , and matter more as well.

edit: thatoneguy seems to have it covered, but I agree

[InfinityCircuit]

I've done extensive playtesting with Meandeck Tendrils and I've found Darkwater Egg to be indispensible.  First, it makes hands like Land Grant, Spoils of the Vault, Mox Emerald, Mana Vault, Brainstorm, Dark Ritual keepable instead of virtually useless.  Second, it allows you to filter useless mana from Sol Ring, Mana Crypt, Mana Vault, Mox Pearl, Mox Ruby, and Mox Emerald.  I've only come up with the issue of needing Darkwater Egg to be Chromatic Sphere 2 times in a ton of goldfishes.  However, the times when I've Spoilsed for Darkwater Egg or use it over Chromatic Sphere are in the dozens.

Another slightly bizarre advantage of Darkwater Egg is that it broadcasts that you are playing Meandeck Tendrils--Let's say you play Turn 1 Polluted Delta-> Bayou, Chromatic sphere--you may be playing belcher, random aggro.dec, etc.  However Darkwater Egg is only used in Meandeck Tendrils.  In this case I've found it to be helpful because you're opponent will go insane and madly dig for Force of Will--by which point they've probably given you so much card advantage that it won't matter anyway.  The theoretical interest in Meandeck Tendrils is off the charts both because of its psychological effect and impossibility to play correctly.

[parallax]

Isn't the only time this is better than darkwater egg when you need to fuel multiple colorless mana (off color mox mana included) through the egg?  Because if this is the case it seems that this should be better than the egg every time you don't have mana vault, 2 off color moxen and a mana vault mana crypt and an off color mox, or all 3 off color moxen.  So too me it seems that this should probably replace the egg, because I know Ive been slowed down becasue I couln't activate the egg or I have needed double black off an egg and the egg filters my black mana to blue.  This also dosn't take into count the tutor trick or the fact that you do have spells that take colorles mana, often negating the above examples.

If not if It doesn't replace egg it should definatly replace chromesphere becasue of the tutor trick.

If you don't have two mana to activate an Egg, haven't you fizzled already? Egg is so important to actually make use of mana vault and all the colorless mana acceleration. Even if you don't have colorless mana floating, Egg is at least as good as Star unless: you don't have three mana available to play and activate it, you have or floating and you need to keep it rather than . I usually try to filter as much mana into blue as I can because blue mana is at a premium.

The tutor trick doesn't seem as relevant as needed to draw a card off a Sphere post-Will.

@InfinityCircuit: Letting people know what deck you're playing and hoping they make a mistake because of it is not an advantage.

[wethepeople]

it will work for me in my stupid Vedalken Tendrils deck, i need something to replace those Darkwater Eggs.

//wtp.

[rmn]

I don't think I'm going too far out on a limb here by saying this is the most playable T1 card yet spoiled.

[Liam-K]

If you don't have two mana to activate an Egg, haven't you fizzled already?

In a word, no.  Though it comes up most often in an opening hand with no source of B outside the egg/sphere.  2 non-black mana, sphere, ritual means you're in business.

Egg is so important to actually make use of mana vault and all the colorless mana acceleration.

How often do you really have 3 colourless mana?  Of those times, how often do you care it's colourless?  There are 22 cards in your deck that let you spend colourless mana, and no I am not counting land grant or repeal (though repealing mana vault isn't bad).

Even if you don't have colorless mana floating, Egg is at least as good as Star unless: you don't have three mana available to play and activate it, you have or floating and you need to keep it rather than . I usually try to filter as much mana into blue as I can because blue mana is at a premium.

You say at least, when are the times when you have less than 3 colourless that it's better?

The tutor trick doesn't seem as relevant as needed to draw a card off a Sphere post-Will.

This may be true, I'm not sure.  I don't actually find myself going through will too often though, and when I do have access to it I try as hard as I can to go off without casting it, as it's the best way in the deck to try again next turn.

@InfinityCircuit: Letting people know what deck you're playing and hoping they make a mistake because of it is not an advantage.

Agreed.  How is telegraphing exactly which deck you're playing good?

[parallax]

Egg > Star when:
You have from: Mana Vault; Mana Crypt + Mox, Sol Ring or Repeal; 2 Mox + the third Mox, Sol Ring or Repeal
You have to pass the turn with on the table.

Star > Egg when:
You can only make , but you have Ritual.
You have , but you need to keep and you need the card draw.
You need the colored mana to cast a Vampiric Tutor, and need the draw to draw the tutored card.

I think Mana Vault alone makes Egg the better choice.

Subsequent testing revealed that Darkwater Egg was often better than Chromatic Sphere - much to my surprise.

Also, I trust Smemmen's judgment here, as he has much more experience with this deck than I do.