[Type 4] Conflux Previews

[Mr. Type 4]

Alright, it's been a while since we had a new set, so it's time to look at Conflux.  Shards was incredible for Type 4 with lots of huge monsters, useful utility cards and things that cycle for excellent effect.  lets hope for more of that. 

The most exciting card thus far:

Conflux    
Sorcery 
Search your library for a white card, a blue card, a black card, a red card, and a green card, reveal them, and put them into your hand. Then shuffle your library.

This is also the winner of the "should never resolve"award.  Still with cards like Vexing Shusher and Boseiju out there there's a goodchance that this card will slip through sometimes.  Tutoring for 5 cards is obviously insane - like the best Gifts Ungiven ever. 

Less exciting stuff:

Countersquall    
Instant 
Counter target noncreature spell. Its controller loses 2 life.

Weak Undermine.  Not terrible by any means, tho.  I always liked adding direct damage to my counter magic, except on Suffocating Blast.

Lapse of Certainty   
Instant 
Counter target spell. If that spell is countered this way, put it on top of its owner's library instead of into that player's graveyard.

White Memory Lapse. could actually be slightly better than blue memory lapse if you have Pyroblast, or REB in the stack.  Still, Memory Lapse is a pretty antiquated counter when there are just soooo many other good options.

Traumatic Visions    
Instant 
Counter Target Spell
Basic landcycling   

Basic landcycling is 99% useless unless you really need to look through your deck, but I doubt that discarding a counterspell will be worth it most of the time.  Unlike Lapse of Certainty, this is actually a hard counter, and a vanilla counterspell is usually better than one with a drawback.

Malfegor    
Legendary Creature - Demon Dragon 
Flying
When Malfegor comes into play, discard your hand. Each opponent sacrifices a creature for each card discarded this way.
 
I dont know if i would want to discard my hand, but the rest of the card is pretty awesome. 

Obelisk of Alara    
Artifact 
  , : You gain 5 life.
  , : Draw a card, then discard a card.
  , : Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn.
   , : Obelisk of Alara deals 3 damage to target player.
  , : Target creature gets +4/+4 until end of turn.

None of these abilities are particularly awesome, but none of them are particularly bad, either.  Gives you a lot of good options.  I'll probably try this.

Worldheart Phoenix   
Creature - Phoenix 
Flying
You may play Worldheart Phoenix from your graveyard by paying  rather than paying it's mana cost. If you do, it comes into play with two +1/+1 counters on it.
  2/2

Good concept, but probably too small for my stack.  4/4 flyer probably doesn't make it.

Extractor Demon     
Creature - Demon 
Flying
Whenever another creature is put into a graveyard from play, you may have target player put the top two cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
Unearth   

5/5

Now a 5/5 flyer that comes back from the dead might be worth looking at.  I hope we get a lot of good Unearth cards.  I loved Kederekt Leviathan from the last set.

Banefire    
Sorcery 
Banefire deals X damage to target creature or player. If X is 5 or greater, Banefire can't be countered by spells or abilities and the damage can't be prevented.

I won't be including this

[Wagner]

I was waiting for someone to start this tread, finally.

I think the Obelisk is pretty nice, no one will go out of their way to destroy it, but in late game, menacing people with recurring Bolts or just keeping people wary of possible alliance combat tricks seems pretty entertaining. Bonus points for being a poor draw engine with Eternal Dragon.

Regarding Extractor Demon, since its ability is somewhat useless, I'm not sure a 5/5 flying with a possible 1 turn comeback is worthy of the stack.

Same thing with the Phoenix, even with the AAC rule, you only get a 4/4 flyer that doesn't haste and that can be bounced, removed while in play, while in the grave, could be tested, but I don't feel he is really good.

Agree with the rest though.

[Mr. Type 4]

yeah right now the only things I'm interested in playeing are Conflux, Countersquall, Oblesk and Tramatic Visions (to replace a lesser counter).  I probably would want a creature that was just a beat at less than a 8/8 unless it had some really impressive abilities, like being untargetable.

I know people with big stacks sometimes like this slightly less powerful stuff, so I wanted to put it all onthe list.  Phoenix wouldn't work with the ACC rule we use where I live, which is "if it doesn't cost mana, it doesn't count as your spell".

[Public Service]

Conflux and Obelisk of Alara look good. I won't be playing countersquall because it's only slighly better than negate, a card I don't play. I've been trying to think of ways that Traumatic Vistions is better than counterspell. So far I've come up with: Infernal Spawn of Infernal Spawn of Evil, Panglacial Wurm, getting cards in the yard for threshold (hunting grounds?) and for just shuffling your library (say if you've seen some bad cards on the top with avian fateshifter).

[Lysyc12]

New one just got posted on MTGSalvation:

Blood Tyrant     
Creature - Vampire 
Flying
At the beginning of your upkeep each player loses 1 life.
Whenever a player loses life in that way, put that many +1/+1 counters on Blood Tyrant.
Whenever a player loses the game, put 5 +1/+1 counters on Blood Tyrant.
5/5

If it can be protected, this thing should be getting huge very quickly.  Though it'll definatly be a lightning rod for removal. 

Edit: to reflect updated wording

[Wagner]

New one just got posted on MTGSalvation:

Blood Tyrant     
Creature - Vampire 
Flying
At the beginning of your upkeep each player loses 1 life.
Whenever a player loses life, put that many +1/+1 counters on Blood Tyrant.
Whenever a player loses the game, put 5 +1/+1 counters on Blood Tyrant.
5/5

If it can be protected, this thing should be getting huge very quickly.  Though it'll definatly be a lightning rod for removal. 

This one is a definite auto-include for T4, it looks like it was designed for it. Remember, damage also cause a loss of life. This guy will probably be 15/15 by the first time he attacks, its second ability is just gravy.

[Mr. Type 4]

Whenever a player loses life, put that many +1/+1 counters on Blood Tyrant.

yes damage does causes loss of life, so this guy will get huge just for existing if he works exactly as listed here (possibly could have a different wording on the real card).  Pretty good.

[Lysyc12]

It seems that Blood Tyrant has been edited on the spoiler and only triggers off the life loss caused by his first ability.

[Mr. Type 4]

Oh well, Blood Tyrant is still pretty good, although getting +1/+1 everytime someone took damage would have be pretty sweet. 

We've all been waitingfor this one - looks pretty strong:

Thornling    
Creature - Shapeshifter 
 : Thornling gains haste until end of turn.
 : Thornling gains trample until end of turn.
 : Thornling is indestructible until end of turn.
 : Thornling gains +1/-1 until end of turn.
 : Thornling gains -1/+1 until end of turn.
4/4

Haste is a nice touch, although kind of out of character for green. 

[Mr. Type 4]

And we have the first good Planeswalker:

Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker    
Planeswalker - Bolas 
+3: Destroy target noncreature permanent.
-2: Gain control of target creature.
-9: Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker deals 7 damage to target player. That player discards seven cards, then sacrifices seven permanents.
  5

Finally a walker that fits my criteria - First ability is at least as good as something I'd expect from a Sorcery.  Decent amount of starting Loyalty.  Amazing Ultimate. The fact that the secondary ability is also good is gravy. 

[Harlequin]

Even has a good Ray's Stack Modification.

Go with a 'Lucky 7s' theme either from FF7 (the attack that occurs when you deal 7777 damage) or just a general slot machine concept. 

[oneofchaos]

Walkers die so easily in the stack, *sigh*.  Maybe good old Nicol Bolas will live long enough to do more than one effect?

[Harlequin]

He goes to 8 loyalty with the first activation of the non-creature ability.  Which puts him out of the range of at least -some- dirrect damage and creature hits.  You can also use him as a control-magic type effect right out of the gates and leave him with 3 loyalty. 

Definatly not the best -card- for type 4, but at least he is far and away the best Planeswalker for Type 4. 

[Mr. Type 4]

Honestly I couldn't care less if Nicol Bolas lives long enough to run the Ultimate (which is neat, but it only messes up one person who probably doesn't even have 7 permanents to sacrifice.) - I would probably include this in my stack:

Sorcery - destroy a noncreature permanent or gain control of target creature (forever). 

So something that could potentially do this stuff multiple times seems really good.  It's not really very broken compared to other cards you can play, but it's plenty good enough and the opportunity to "live the dream" with the ultimate seems like it will be VERY fun to play with.  I cant wait to see the art.

[Nefarias]

I cant wait to see the art.

[archery999]

Here are cards up to today. They leak about 5-8 everyday so check back. http://mtgsalvation.com/conflux-spoiler.html
As for the "Hollywood star" of the day.  Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker is a card I want to try out.  He is a big dude that costs a lot (4 ), but he can walk the walk and talk the talk.  Starting out at a solid five is good, but once in play, he essentially is at 8 loyalty.   Not only does he get to 8 loyalty first turn played, but can also get rid of pesky equiptments, enchantments, artifact, and even LANDS!  Yes LANDS! many people just go "oh. poof land gone. they'll play another next turn."  that may be true, but the shards tri color lands and conflux mana fixing lands are very essential in Limited.  With the destruction of say, a Savage Lands, you can kill an opponent if all they have out are Mountains and Swamps.  The second ability is a killer as well.  If you play that for his opening ability, you can take your opponents "Bomb" if they got it out.  How devastating would it be if you took their Hellkite Overlord or their Sphinx Sovereign.  The use of the last ability, if Nicol Bolasis not removed by then, would devastate your opponent.  They can't counter anything you play, they lose 7 blockers, and they lose 7 life.  That is not Cruel Ultimatum, but just Cruel.  I do not see Nicol Bolas in any deck outside of Limited, Standard, and Elder Dragon Highlander Decks in competetive play.  It would take massive mana acceleration to get the mana needed, or they would have to use cards like hideaway lands.  This is my opinion.  Put what you think and reply.  I am not a pro or an expert.  I am just a fan of MTG.  You may or may not choose to accept what I have written ,but I, like many other fans of Magic, cannot wait for CONFLUX to come out and will be avidly awaiting the previews of Alara Reborn.

[Wagner]

Archery, no offense, but you keyboard most likely has an enter key, I suggest you use it.

Here is the newest playable card:

Fleshformer
   2b
Creature - Human Wizard   Uncommon
{G}: Fleshformer gets +2/+2 and has fear until end of turn. Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn.
      2/2

This can automatically be compared to Smokespew Invoker as it takes down most creatures in play. What I do like about him though is that unlike Invoker, you benefit from waiting to kill all the creatures on the board so he won't be only2/2. If you do wait on your turn, you can probably make him 10/10 fear and attack, but you risk a few shenanigans in the meantime.

[oneofchaos]

I like the way the set is coming along, good news for us!

[thorme]

Archery, no offense, but you keyboard most likely has an enter key, I suggest you use it.

Here is the newest playable card:

Fleshformer
   2b
Creature - Human Wizard   Uncommon
{G}: Fleshformer gets +2/+2 and has fear until end of turn. Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn.
      2/2

This can automatically be compared to Smokespew Invoker as it takes down most creatures in play. What I do like about him though is that unlike Invoker, you benefit from waiting to kill all the creatures on the board so he won't be only2/2. If you do wait on your turn, you can probably make him 10/10 fear and attack, but you risk a few shenanigans in the meantime.

Just watch out for the player who has this dude and morphling/thornling/crowd favorites/thunder wall/etc. on their team!

[Mr. Type 4]

if there is at least one other creature in play, Fleshformer is infinite power, right? I can just stack up a million activations and then let them all resolve. Seems too broken for my taste, but i guess if you're the type that likes Consuptive Goo then this would fit right in.

[Nefarias]

if there is at least one other creature in play, Fleshformer is infinite power, right? I can just stack up a million activations and then let them all resolve.

We used to play Consumptive Goo like that too, and then realized it was incorrect. The ability will fail to resolve once the targets become illegal. So like if you stack up 100 activations on a 6/6, the first three will hit and the last 97 will be countered on resolution, since the ability has only one target and it's no longer legal.

Of course, Consumptive Goo is a bit more broken than that because it can target itself, and after that turn, the -1/-1's will be cleared away and he'll be left with tons of +/+1 counters. This guy can target itself infinitely too, but without some other trickery, there's no gain in that. Hence the need for a guy with infinite toughness.

[Mr. Type 4]

Even if that's true, this guy is really toeing the line.  The fact that he gets fear is really obnoxious - so even if I have an untargetable guy or something, if it's not black I can still get steam-rolled by this guy. 

[Wagner]

Even if that's true, this guy is really toeing the line.  The fact that he gets fear is really obnoxious - so even if I have an untargetable guy or something, if it's not black I can still get steam-rolled by this guy. 

He can, but he still has to survive a whole turn, meanwhile the player is vulnerable to attacks, unless he kills the creatures, in which case he goes back to being a 2/2 by your turn.

And there are some times you just won't want to wait for your turn or there won't be enough meat on the board to make it lethal. Most of the time you can expect to eat two 6 toughness creatures at most, getting him to 14/14 fear, good, strong, but probably not broken.

[Mr. Type 4]

my big concern lately is that creatures are fairly easy to resolve anymore.  I'm much less concerned about someone playing this guy and sitting on it through several player's turns than I am about someone reanimating this guy as an instant on someone's EOT and just killing the whole board and then another player. 

Maybe this guy is ok-  if it is it will be very very powerful.  I suppose I can give it a try

[Lysyc12]

He's not up on the spoiler yet, but he's just too insane not to mention:

Progenitus - 
Legendary Creature - Hydra (M)
Protection from everything.
When Progenitus is put into a graveyard from anywhere, shuffle it into its owner's library.
10/10


Might be a bit too obnoxious for some stacks, but I run a fairly high powered one (firebreathers, Rocket Launcher, etc.)  so I'd reallly like to give him a try.

[oneofchaos]

I want to create a card called everything for my type 4 stack, just to mess with people.

[Mr. Type 4]

Definitely hope that Progenitus guy is for real.  That would be perfect, it's like an unglued card.

[mutant mell]

Some cards I saw in the spoiler -

Meglonoth
Creature - Beast   
Vigilance, trample
Whenever Meglonoth blocks a creature, Meglonoth deals damage equal to its power to target player.
6/6

Not horribly good, but if a stack is lacking in creatures, he seems pretty cool

Path to Exile
Instant   
Remove target creature from the game. Its controller may search his or her library for a basic land card, put it into play tapped, then shuffle his or her library.

I'm surprised nobody else has mentioned this, actually, it's targeted removal that RFGs and has no real drawback (well, barring some shuffling shenanigans)   I play STP, and I don't see much of a reason to pass this up.

EDIT:

Inkwell Leviathan

Artifact Creature - Leviathan   
Islandwalk, trample, shroud
7/11

This creature is certainly good enough, especially for those who play with *walk making creatures unblockable

[Lysyc12]

Here's another that hasn't been put on the spoiler yet:

Child of Alara 
Legendary Creature - Avatar
Trample
When Child of Alara is put into a graveyard from play, destroy all non-land permanents. They can't be regenerated.
6/6

[Mr. Type 4]

Inkwell Leviathan   
Artifact Creature - Leviathan 
Islandwalk, trample, shroud
"Into it's maw went the seventh sea, never to be seen again while the world remains." -Esper Fable
 #30/145 7/11

Big, trampling and untargetable.  Pretty good combination of abilities.  Not particularly exciting, but other large guys may get edged out of the stack for things like this.  Strong beaters from the old days like Spirit of the Night look fairly week compared to monsters like this one.