{AVR} Tandem Lookout

[serracollector]

We first had ophidian, then Scroll Theif, and a few other 1UU cc dudes, but this one seems the best printed IMO.  Its like an Edric that's only 2U.

We can start with 4 bobs, and 4 of these.  Turn 1 land mox, bob, turn 2 Lookout,  Here I Come! (lol?).  

Also, it just says damage, not combat damage, meaning turn 1 fireslinger, turn 2 this is also interesting/funny.

Ofc this can easily be splashed into almost any of the noble fish/midrange bant decks.

1 drawback is that it doesn't have the draw ability unless you have another creature, but not sure how big a drawback that is considering all decks running it would have ample targets I am sure.

I am sure there are tons of other fishy options, but anyways, this is a double phid for only 1 colored mana, I am sure its going to not only be used, but think its gonna be really good.

[Saya]

i could agree if his manacost were 2U.

[AmbivalentDuck]

Compare to Edric, Spymaster of Trest.

[MaximumCDawg]

Yeah, Im not sure I like this guy in Vintage over Edric.  However, it's super-cute as a floating Ophidian Eye, and I'm enjoying the concept of trying to kill someone with Niv Mizzet combo in Vintage next month.

[DubDub]

i could agree if his manacost were 2U.

What?  It is 2U.

[nineisnoone]

i could agree if his manacost were 2U.

What?  It is 2U.

Yes. Also, I like this more than Edric simply due to few mana restraints and non-legendary status. Opens up fish/beats decks a bit due to that.

[Guli]

i could agree if his manacost were 2U.

What?  It is 2U.

Yes. Also, I like this more than Edric simply due to few mana restraints and non-legendary status. Opens up fish/beats decks a bit due to that.

If there is  involved, I would play 1 Edric and 2-3 Tandem.

I like Tandem a lot and will try to utilize it in creature heavy builds. I know from experience that connecting even a couple times makes all the difference. Swing that Thalia and get another threat.

[Blue Lotus]

I like it. Will try with fireslinger that card has always been a favorite of mine.

[boggyb]

Pretty cool. I like the soulbond mechanic -- if your bonded critter dies, just cast another one!

Also, I'm not reading this wrong, am I? Two Lookouts soulbonded with one another = 4 cards if both connect? Gravy.

[TorpidNinja]

Pretty cool. I like the soulbond mechanic -- if your bonded critter dies, just cast another one!

Also, I'm not reading this wrong, am I? Two Lookouts soulbonded with one another = 4 cards if both connect? Gravy.

They would both be "paired" at this point, so it would only be 1 card per hit.

[bactgudz]

Pretty cool. I like the soulbond mechanic -- if your bonded critter dies, just cast another one!

Also, I'm not reading this wrong, am I? Two Lookouts soulbonded with one another = 4 cards if both connect? Gravy.

They would both be "paired" at this point, so it would only be 1 card per hit.

You would only pair them once, but the ability on each would give each other:
"Whenever this creature deals damage to an opponent, draw a card."
so each lookout would have 2 instances of this ability
so it would be 2 per hit per lookout for 4 total.

The real downside I see to this guy over edric or selkie is that you won't get to draw anything if he's alone on the board.

[The Atog Lord]

This card doesn't even demand his own removal spell. I'd be very surprised if he's playable.

[AmbivalentDuck]

Tandem is a house.  This is the list I arrived at this morning.  Only a few hours of testing into it, but looking VERY strong.  It puts on so much pressure that I might actually consider Daze over some Flusters.  Goyf accumulating damage isn't necessarily a must-answer, but Goyf accumulating cards is.

1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Black Lotus
1 Forest
2 Island
4 Tropical Island
4 Misty Rainforest
1 Polluted Delta
1 Strip Mine
3 Wasteland

4 Force of Will
4 Flusterstorm
3 Mental Misstep

4 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
2 Nature's Claim
1 Time Walk
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1 Mystical Tutor

3 Tandem Lookout
2 Edric, Spymaster of Trest
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Trygon Predator

SB: 2 Nature's Claim
SB: 4 Grafdigger's Cage
SB: 3 Tormod's Crypt
SB: 1 Mental Misstep
SB: 4 Sower of Temptation
SB: 1 Old Man of the Sea

[Saya]

Oh sorry!yeah,his cost is 2U.he may works in fisch

[Oath of Happy]

I'm a little confused on how this card works.  If you pair it with another creature an deal damage do you draw 1 card or 2? Also, if the other creature is already in play can you swing the turn you play this or is it summoning sick?

[Darkenslight]

I'm a little confused on how this card works.  If you pair it with another creature an deal damage do you draw 1 card or 2? Also, if the other creature is already in play can you swing the turn you play this or is it summoning sick?

If you connect with both, you get two cards. With only one, a solitary card.

[AmbivalentDuck]

This card doesn't even demand his own removal spell. I'd be very surprised if he's playable.

I think you're misreading.  If I drop this turn 1, I can drop Goyf turn 2, soulbond, and swing for 2 and a card.

Alternatively, I drop this and Goyf, Goyf is StP-ed.  I can drop Snapcaster, soulbond, and they're both active again.

[boggyb]

Yeah it's beautifully aligned with the Fish Mission, summarized by the helpful acronym AASS: Accumulated Advantage through Strong Synergies. Kicking ass with your AASS!

So great that you can soulbond new creatures after the first one dies.

[Meddling Mike]

Tandem Lookout v. Edric, Spymaster of Trest

Why Tandem>Edric:
-Doesn't have Green in the casting cost.
-Isn't Legendary.
-Triggers for all damage rather than just combat damage.

Why Edric>Tandem:
-Works fine without another unpaired creature.
-Lends the ability to ALL creatures you control rather than just the creature it is paired to.
-2/2 rather than a 2/1
-Works fine for himself/other remaining creatures should they be able to remove one of the other creatures.

Conclusion:
Tandem removes the need to have green and some awkward draws with Multiple Edrics, but this seems minor compared to the vulnerability introduced and the awkward draws of having Tandem but no other creatures to pair it with. If you're running enough creatures that you're confident of always having a creature to pair it with then you may not want to sacrifice the added value of Edric giving the ability to more than just one other creature. If you were running a build with green I think it would be difficult to justify Tandem over Edric.

In a different build the main competition for this effect would probably be Cold-Eyed Selkie/Scroll Thief. That would seem to be a closer competition that most likely hinges on the amount of removal you expect to face/your mana base/creature count/etc.

[boggyb]

His interaction with Mortarpod is pretty cute. Is there any way we can squeeze utility out of this and recurring critters like Bloodghast? Much more relevant for standard obviously, but just an idea.

[Guli]

[TheWhiteDragon]

While I think this guy has merit over edric, I don't think he has merit over selkie.  Selkie has a flexible cc and ilandwalk, which is huge.  So many games I get out a turn 2 selkie off a turn 1 land/noble->turn 2 land/selkie->turn 3 pridemage, swing.  That gives me unblockable 3 damage ancestral each turn.  If this guy or the counterpart gets plowed, you lose curiosity effect.  Also, this guy at MOST nets you 2 cards and alone nets you nothing.  He's easy to block and then you lose him after drawing 2 cards.

[vaughnbros]

So compared to edric this guys benefits are that he is not green and not legendary.  his cons are that he is only ever as good as edric if you have exactly 2 creatures out.  anymore and hes worse, any less and well hes a 3 mana 2/1.  and he has 1 less toughness.

Was anyone really going to run more edric if he wasn't legendary?  and how many fish decks have blue, but not green?  I don't necessarily think that its about this guy versus edric though because in my opinion edric clearly wins. 

I think this is about this guy + edric, you are talking about having double or even triple curiosity on multiple creatures while also not limiting yourself to being able to only attack with one creature like selkie.

[Wagner]

If this is to be played, I think it would be silly to not use Phantasmal Image or Metamorph. Both cards are fine by themselves and are good in other matchups, but if you have a lookout and manage to copy it, that's 4 cards per turn.

Not saying it's playable... but if I was to try it, I'd definitively go down that route, probably with Meddling Mage or other cheap critters that like to be copied.

[serracollector]

I was thinking along those lines as well.  Maybe in a UWB tempo mage/human deck with bobs, medling mages, snaps, delvers, phatasmal images etc.  He is also interesting with Aether Vials, you can put him into play letting w/e isn't blocked get you another card etc.  There is UW, UB, and UR fish that don't run green.  I mean this guy works great with Grim Lavamancer, Fireslinger, Keldon Marauders, Cinder Pyromancer, Maybe even Goblin Fireslinger....maybe.  Its obv great with any flash creatures like aven, clique or snap.  I could even see 1 or 2 of these in certain bomberman builds with trinket mages, avens and snaps.  Even getting a little CA out of your creatures is tremendous in t1. 

[Guli]

I have a Bant prison concept which has phantasmal image with a lot of copy targets. Might be interesting to use 3 Tandem in that.

Also the GWu Ranger beats deck tends to attack with Ranger and Thalia (with exalted a lot). And I already win a lot of games without any card advantage. Tandem would probably push things even further... I also have tappers in that deck. This clears the way and makes Tandem really dangerous. But it might also be just win more or not as good as in other decks..

[MaximumCDawg]

I feel like the comparison to Edric is false, and it's driving people to test this guy where he doesn't belong.  He's not a crappy Edric... he's a buffed Ophidan Eye / Curiosity effect.  I recall the old UR fish decks that would run Lavamancer and Curiosity as a way to draw cards.  The problem (as with all enchantments) was the two-for-one.  While Tandem is more expensive, he potentially overcomes the two-for-one problem.  He's also fun with Keldon Marauders.

Is there a deck that wants to use an engine like this?  Maybe with Shadow Guildmage doing something...?  Who knows.

If you wanna get super cute (assuming  Niv Mizzet isn't cute enough) then you could pair this with a Trike for a ghetto Ancestral, Cosi's Ravager + Fastbond for a likely quick win, Opalescence +Furious Assault for similar good times.

Ultimately, I have a hard time seeing this guy working in Vintage right now.  I feel like what he needs to really shine is a 1 or 2 casting cost creature that has the capability of hitting the opponent twice or more a turn somehow.  If there was a 1 drop that had The Fallen's effect, for example, I think that'd be ideal.  Trouble is, all the similar creatures in the right price range (Blood Seeker, Naf's Asp) cause loss of life, not damage.  Any ideas?

[Oath of Happy]

In a deck wtih 4 Misty's you can throw in a Dryad Arbor to fetch for so that if your paired creature gets removed you can repair and still draw off him, even mid-combat.