Bruizar's All Seeing Eye looks at Rise of the Eldrazi

[BruiZar]

For quiet some time I have stopped going to prereleases and drafts and instead purchased foil playsets of the cards I really want, due to playability, coolness, utility and most of all price speculation. I found out that I am usually spending almost the same amount of money buying foil playsets of the relevant and semi relevant cards, as I am buying a box and going to a prelease. In this thread I will look at the cards I will purchase a foil version of. Some cards are just mentioned for an interesting mechanic, or meta game utility. I will aim to do one of these threads at every set release, for enjoyment and as a way to train and test my card selecting skills. I (or you) can go back in time to see which cards I missed and which ones I got right.

Alright, here are my Rise of the Eldrazi comments based on the set so far.

Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
As much as this seems broken in Vintage, I have a strong feeling that another, bigger and better oath monstrosity will be printed in the next set. One that can be tinkered out, because Scars of Mirrodin will likely try to be at least as awesome as the first Mirrodin block, and that one brought us a lot of epic cards including the tinker beast that started it all, Darksteel Collosus. I stopped buying tinker targets because they seem to get replaced too quickly for my liking. The same is true for dread return targets. If something really cements its name on the format, like Iona, I will buy it, but I wouldn't spend money on foil versions.

Student of Warfare
This card is going to cost some money. This creature is really good. A great 1 mana drop, but its also a great 2 mana drop, or 3 mana drop, basically this card allows you to tap out whenever you want to cast it, so there is not a 'right' moment to play this card. 3/3 first strike is good, 4/4 double strike wins games. I expect to see this at least in standard / extended. In hindsight, Figure of Destiny seems like a future sighted version of this card and I actually like this card better because this has some built in protection in the form of first strike. Figure of Destiny doesn't get protection up until 'level 4', where you invested  11 mana in him. This one gets protection starting from 2 mana. Also, Figure of Destiny costs 2 mana for 2/2, and 5 mana for 4/4. Student is 3/3 first strike for 2 and 4/4 doublestrike for 8. For that reason ,equipment is better on Student then it is on Figure. The only thing to say for figure is that its 4/4 comes quicker putting it out of bolt range.

Gideon Jura
This card looks bad at first glance, but I really like it. You can basically chump a big creature that wants to hit Jura, and then destroy it when it is tapped. If there is lethal damage on the board, you can use it to absorb the damage and live another turn. If you have lethal on the board and your opponent can block your creatures, you can force him to attack and swing for the kill. If you manage to clear, or nearly clear the board, you can keep swinging with a 6/6 beast that can't die to combat damage. If your opponent is on 6 and he doesn't have enough power to kill Jura, you can force, then kill him just with Jura on the board. His forcing skill gives +2 loyalty so the drawback of getting hit is sort of reduced. This should find a deck.

Momentous Fall
I think this is a rather aggressively priced bomb. It's an instant, So you can drop your mana EOT for some broken card drawing action. For your combat step ass saving it even gives you some life too. Too bad you can't Bloodbraid Elf into it, but still going to played in the limited formats.

Realms Uncharted
This will find a deck, either now or in the future I will pick up 4 foil ones because its the strongest land tutor without the costly drawback of something like Crop Rotation that can actually get you in a mana screwed position. The people saying Intuition is better are misunderstanding one important part and that is that, like gifts, this gives you 2 cards in hand. Gifts Ungiven has shown how much that difference matters. Besides, why not own 4 foil Gifts, intuitions AND realms uncharted?

As you can see, green and white currently contain my favorite cards. There is not much that interests vintage, but more may be just around the corner. Stay tuned.

[o uncola o]

Student of Warfare
This card is going to cost some money. This creature is really good. A great 1 mana drop, but its also a great 2 mana drop, or 3 mana drop, basically this card allows you to tap out whenever you want to cast it, so there is not a 'right' moment to play this card. 3/3 first strike is good, 4/4 double strike wins games. I expect to see this at least in standard / extended. In hindsight, Figure of Destiny seems like a future sighted version of this card and I actually like this card better because this has some built in protection in the form of first strike. Figure of Destiny doesn't get protection up until 'level 4', where you invested  11 mana in him. This one gets protection starting from 2 mana. Also, Figure of Destiny costs 2 mana for 2/2, and 5 mana for 4/4. Student is 3/3 first strike for 2 and 4/4 doublestrike for 8. For that reason ,equipment is better on Student then it is on Figure. The only thing to say for figure is that its 4/4 comes quicker putting it out of bolt range.

I am not completely up on the "level" mechanic.  But my understanding was that creatures come into play as a level 0.  Thus it would cost WWW for a 3/3/ first strike with "Student of Warfare".  Do they actually come in as a level 1?  If so, I agree, the card is very solid.  Not vintage, but still solid.

[Yare]

My understanding is that cards with levels come into play at level 0.

[DubDub]

My understanding is that cards with levels come into play at level 0.

Yes, they count level counters, and no inherent effect gives permanents level counters automatically.  MaRo addresses this in part in his article today (teasing a 'Level Up' week to come).  He does mention that there will be level-helpers, so I could see an enchantment that gives creatures with level-up level counters upon entering the battlefield, or a spell that does so as a one-shot effect.

http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/mm/85&dcmp=ilc-mtgrss

[BruiZar]

I removed Student of Warfare from the list due to it starting on level 0. It's quiet hard to find any playable cards at all, especially for Vintage, but I will have a try anyway.

I have added:
"Dude Recall" - Perhaps in Dredge. Probably not good enough for Vintage, but maybe other formats can use this as a way to dredge some cards off bloodghast/ichorid/narcomoeba. Don't foresee this being worth much of anything..
Not good enough, because once you can tap 4 dudes, you can just dread return for a wincondition anyway.

Devastating Summons - This is a good card for legacy land decks, this will see play.
Win more, but i will pick them up anyway

Growth Spasm -  Scapeshift, will be worth nothing. Growth Spasm can replace Wood Elves, as it will effectively replace the 1 power that Wood Elves has for 0/1 - sack for  , which helps speed up the deck and make your chumper more effective when not playing against aggro.

Torn Field - Fetch for every color, not sure if its good enough given the tapped into play clause, and the fact that there is regular fetch available. Probably not, but it's probably not gonna cost much anyway so I'm picking up a foil playset just in case.

Inquisition of Kozilek - Although Thoughtseize is better, this is a good replacement. It is an uncommon but I expect it to be worth a couple of euros still, but only until it rotates out.

Nothing that interests Vintage I think

[Adan]

Dude Recall is also inferior to Breakthrough in Dredge. However, I still think there will be at least some crazy guy who is going to sleeve up something with Dude Recall and Empty the Warrens.
That would make sense... spawning tokens, draw a fuckload of cards to recover and repeat... Just a stupid idea, but I guess it can be fun.

But something that might be interesting for Dredge is this fellow I guess:



He basically steals 2 Permanents per swing and is pretty sick against Smokestacks and Arcbound Ravagers. =D
There are some hidden talents I believe... It can shut down Aether Spellbomb and if the opponent uses a Crypt on you, you will get the Crypt (not that this would be relevant, but this prevents that the opponent can do that again with a Will in 2 ways.

[Zombie]

Torn Field = Terramorphic Expanse. Who plays Expanse in Vintage? The card is admittedly huge for Pauper and can definitely find a use in more casual/budget decks and perhaps Highlanders, EDH more so than German.
*wants a playset*

[BruiZar]

+ =

[BruiZar]

Dude Recall is also inferior to Breakthrough in Dredge. However, I still think there will be at least some crazy guy who is going to sleeve up something with Dude Recall and Empty the Warrens.
That would make sense... spawning tokens, draw a fuckload of cards to recover and repeat... Just a stupid idea, but I guess it can be fun.

Dude recall in kobold/ETW/Clamp is a cute idea.

[serracollector]

Venerated Teacher
2u
Creature - Human Wizard    Common
When Venerated Teacher enters the battlefield, put two level counters on each creature you control with level up.
2/2

+

Echo Mage
1uu
Creature - Human Wizard    Rare
Level up 1{U}
[Level 2-3] , : Copy target instant or sorcery spell. You may choose new targets for the copy. (2/4)
[Level 4+] , : Copy target instant or sorcery spell twice. You may choose new targets for the copies. (2/5)

+

Coralhelm Commander
uu
Creature - Merfolk Soldier    Rare
Level up 1
[Level 2-3] : Flying | 3/3
[Level 4+] : Flying, other Merfolk you control get +1/+1. | 4/4.

+ Selkie's + Counters and restricted draw = FUN (maybe not competitive), fish deck?

[Troy_Costisick]

Venerated Teacher
2u
Creature - Human Wizard    Common
When Venerated Teacher enters the battlefield, put two level counters on each creature you control with level up.
2/2

+

Echo Mage
1uu
Creature - Human Wizard    Rare
Level up 1{U}
[Level 2-3] , : Copy target instant or sorcery spell. You may choose new targets for the copy. (2/4)
[Level 4+] , : Copy target instant or sorcery spell twice. You may choose new targets for the copies. (2/5)

+

Coralhelm Commander
uu
Creature - Merfolk Soldier    Rare
Level up 1
[Level 2-3] : Flying | 3/3
[Level 4+] : Flying, other Merfolk you control get +1/+1. | 4/4.

+ Selkie's + Counters and restricted draw = FUN (maybe not competitive), fish deck?

Needs 4x Curfew

[serracollector]

lol yea, curfew would be amazing at that point eh?  Stops all those nasty Eldrazi, tinker targets and Terstadon too.  Interesting thought.

Also just noticed:

Guul Draz Assassin
b
Creature - Vampire Assassin    Rare
Level up 1{B} (1{B}: Put a Level counter on this. Level up only as a sorcery.)
[Level 2-3] , : Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn. (2/2)
[Level 4+] , : Target creature gets -4/-4 until end of turn. (4/4)
1/1

If u drop the mage and get him to level 2, he can now kill 99.9% of the critters used in vintage for 1 black.  Yes darkblast does the same thing, but this also has 2 beef behind it. and can take down metalworker, block, then ability to kill Lodestones, and if they remove 2 counters from trike to kill him u can kill the trike too, only thing he doesn't stop is Trygon.  Just an idea.

Or if u went the red route:

Brimstone Mage
2r
Creature - Human Shaman    Uncommon
Level up 3{R}
[Level 1-2] : Brimstone Mage deals 1 damage to target creature or player. | 2/3
[Level 3+] : Brimstone Mage deals 3 damage to target creature or player. | 2/4
2/2

bolt on a stick is good I hear.

[Delha]

If u drop the mage and get him to level 2, he can now kill 99.9% of the critters used in vintage for 1 black.  Yes darkblast does the same thing, but this also has 2 beef behind it...

...bolt on a stick is good I hear.

I apologize beforehand, if you were joking. It sounded serious, but what you're claiming is too ridiculous for me to not suspect humor.

Asssassin won't see play for the same reason Sneak Attack doesn't see play (in Oath or it's own dedicated decklist). Paying {b} to do something cool is fine. Paying before then is not fine. When you get into that price range, you might as well run Visara. It's like you're saying "Brilliant Plan is amazing! Sure, Ancestral does the same thing..." The difference here is that Assassin costs five times as much as Darkblast. As a bonus, Darkblast doesn't mind being countered and doesn't have summoning sickness.

Bolt on a stick is cute. Paying fifteen mana to get there is idiotic. Hell, I'd run Urza's Rage first. This also doesn't address the fact that a Lightning Bolt with buyback still might not be good enough to see play in Tier 1 Vintage decks.

[serracollector]

@ above: I meant if your running the mage that adds two counters.  Then he is level 2 on turn 2, saying u dropped him turn 1 with a mox etc.  No the level up guys are not good on their own, but as Troy said if u use the mage, and curfews it stops ur opponent from dropping fatties, and gets ur level uppers to their lvl 2-3 quite easily.

[President Skroob]

This also doesn't address the fact that a Lightning Bolt with buyback still might not be good enough to see play in Tier 1 Vintage decks.

I apologize beforehand, if you were joking. It sounded serious, but what you're claiming is too ridiculous for me to not suspect humor.

[meadbert]

Lightning Bolt with buyback

Broken!

[zeus-online]

Lightning Bolt with buyback

Hmm i think i'd play that card. Like. Alot. In every deck. if there where no other red cards then buyback bolt, i think i'd still splash red for this card.

[Delha]

@serracollector: I just now remembered that three or four posts back you said "FUN but not necessarily competitive". I was just reading the post I responded to directly and forgot the earlier context. Sorry 'bout that.

This also doesn't address the fact that a Lightning Bolt with buyback still might not be good enough to see play in Tier 1 Vintage decks.

I apologize beforehand, if you were joking. It sounded serious, but what you're claiming is too ridiculous for me to not suspect humor.

I'm all for thought exercises, so... I'm starting another thread here to avoid derailing.

[Nefarias]

lol yea, curfew would be amazing at that point eh?  Stops all those nasty Eldrazi, tinker targets and Terstadon too.  Interesting thought.

Also just noticed:

Guul Draz Assassin
b
Creature - Vampire Assassin    Rare
Level up 1{B} (1{B}: Put a Level counter on this. Level up only as a sorcery.)
[Level 2-3] , : Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn. (2/2)
[Level 4+] , : Target creature gets -4/-4 until end of turn. (4/4)
1/1

If u drop the mage and get him to level 2, he can now kill 99.9% of the critters used in vintage for 1 black.  Yes darkblast does the same thing, but this also has 2 beef behind it. and can take down metalworker, block, then ability to kill Lodestones, and if they remove 2 counters from trike to kill him u can kill the trike too, only thing he doesn't stop is Trygon.  Just an idea.

It kinda sorta does take down Trygon too, since it prevents it from dealing combat damage. Sure, it doesn't kill it, but it neuters it long enough for you to get those last two level counters on it.

Not saying it's good, just sayin'.

[BruiZar]

New hot card!

Ancient Stirrings  

Sorcery   
Look at the top five cards of your library. You may reveal a colorless card from among them and put it into your hand. Then put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.

Pick them up while you can!

To clarify a bit: It cycles with moxen, which is useful in any deck, but especially storm. It digs for Vault/Key, It can find toolbox cards in the form of T.Crypt, Sensei's Divining Top, Pithing Needle, etc. Basically, it's an undercosted Trinket Mage. It could also serve as a way to dig for cards in other decks, such as Voltron's combo deck.

[LotusHead]

New hot card!

Ancient Stirrings  

Sorcery   
Look at the top five cards of your library. You may reveal a colorless card from among them and put it into your hand. Then put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.

Pick them up while you can!

To clarify a bit: It cycles with moxen, which is useful in any deck, but especially storm. It digs for Vault/Key, It can find toolbox cards in the form of T.Crypt, Sensei's Divining Top, Pithing Needle, etc. Basically, it's an undercosted Trinket Mage. It could also serve as a way to dig for cards in other decks, such as Voltron's combo deck.

It means 5cShops can keep one land hands! Whoot!

[meadbert]

New hot card!

Ancient Stirrings  

Sorcery   
Look at the top five cards of your library. You may reveal a colorless card from among them and put it into your hand. Then put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.

Pick them up while you can!

To clarify a bit: It cycles with moxen, which is useful in any deck, but especially storm. It digs for Vault/Key, It can find toolbox cards in the form of T.Crypt, Sensei's Divining Top, Pithing Needle, etc. Basically, it's an undercosted Trinket Mage. It could also serve as a way to dig for cards in other decks, such as Voltron's combo deck.

I doubt this will be playable in Dredge, but it is worth noting that it digs for Bazaar. Vamp, Seal and Cropper are all better so probably not relevenant.

The other card to mentions Chalice.  On the play Stirring into Chalice for 0 is pretty strong.

[BruiZar]

This is my favorite card of the set

[dragzz]

Agreed, it's the card I'm most excited about. I would definitely get me a foil playset.

[Adan]

What about Thought Gorger? I found him quite interesting as he can act like a Cephalid Sage when you have a Therapy, but you can also bash faces in with him (okay, GGT can also do so, but this guy had trample). But he's useless for either combo or beatdown when you are low on handcards, so I think he's strange, especially when you play with Unmask your handresources are used up very fast.

[BruiZar]

Playset of Foil Gideon's already more than $200. Regular ones at $100

Momentous Fall doesn't look like it's going anywhere.

Playset of foil inquisitions at around $8 so far

[BruiZar]

What about Thought Gorger? I found him quite interesting as he can act like a Cephalid Sage when you have a Therapy, but you can also bash faces in with him (okay, GGT can also do so, but this guy had trample). But he's useless for either combo or beatdown when you are low on handcards, so I think he's strange, especially when you play with Unmask your handresources are used up very fast.

Thought Gorger is a good card, but it won't see play in the eternal formats. Plowshares will make sure you won't end up drawing cards, and otherwise you will just get vault/keyd. Besides that, the chances of this coming down with a lot of 1/1 counters is slim for the eternal formats. I do think this has a place in limited though.

[Xequecal]

What about Thought Gorger? I found him quite interesting as he can act like a Cephalid Sage when you have a Therapy, but you can also bash faces in with him (okay, GGT can also do so, but this guy had trample). But he's useless for either combo or beatdown when you are low on handcards, so I think he's strange, especially when you play with Unmask your handresources are used up very fast.

Thought Gorger is a good card, but it won't see play in the eternal formats. Plowshares will make sure you won't end up drawing cards, and otherwise you will just get vault/keyd. Besides that, the chances of this coming down with a lot of 1/1 counters is slim for the eternal formats. I do think this has a place in limited though.

The trigger is "leaves the battlefield," so you get your cards even if it's exiled. Also, if it's removed in response to the trigger, you don't discard your hand. (It says, "if you do" on the first trigger.)

[BruiZar]

As far as I can tell now the "big money" cards I missed were Vengevine and All is Dust. I think both get its price from being mythic. I considered All is Dust for vintage due to metal worker, but we don't play colored cards too much, so its probably only relevant in standard. Vengevine was mentioned in the Ichorid thread, but we don't actually cast any creatures to make it return.

[waikiki]

is the draw 3 card that needs to tap 4 creatures any good in a deck which is ETW based?