You should clarify whether you use paper rarities or not. Since you have to play regular classic games anyway, there's nothing stopping you from using paper rarities.
Yes, the Obliterator will be insane in monoblack decks, but it still falls to exile, -1/-1 counters, and removal. I don't see it dying to any sort of monogreen or monored deck.
Caged Sun is actually better than Gauntlet of Power since the mana generation is NOT symmetrical.
And Jin is not nearly as broken I don't think. The creature can't protect itself and is 10 mana...
Maybe, but if all you want is a cantrip to keep a card in hand I still think you could do better. Run Spreading Seas instead (an underused commander gem IMO). Being able to turn off someones maze, or coffers, or cradle, or academy ruins etc. will usually have far more impact then a chump blocker. It costs less mana to boot.
Jin-Taxis will ruin Commander games. -7 on the hand? That's broken beyond broken and as such Jin should be banned.
Also I asked an ORC and they told me that the life/mana costs from NPH will still be considered as the color. I asked especially for Commander colors.
Caged Sun is just a reprint of that Gauntlet of Power card, if that's the name.
While agreeable it seems like white is just as guilty if not more so...though perhaps not, now that i think about it all i can think of is Hallowed Burial and Condemn
A very fun pair of articles to read with spot-on analysis on how these cards will be affecting the metagame. You really made me think twice about Apostle's Blessing. After reading your assessment, I find I highly undervalued it. The top ten is pretty close to mine, I just can't help but think that you meant to put Immolating Souleater where you put Slash Panther, it seems much more explosive and threatening than just a 4/2 haste.
That Glistener Elf combo does seem scary. But I'm skeptical. You need Forest, Mountain, Groundswell, Glistener Elf, and Assault Strobe for it to work. That's five out of your opening seven. I know for a fact that I'm not that lucky :-) Mono Green Infect seems much nicer to me thanks to Mutagenic Growth and Leeching Bite; Glistener gives you a top notch one-drop, SoM has Blight Mamba and Ichorclaw Myr as respectable two-drops, Rot Wolf is a potential card-drawing three-drop, and Blightwidow can be just nasty even in non-Infect strategies. Add Mutagenic Growth to the suite of pump spells (and perhaps Apostle's Blessing as Vines of Vastwood 5-8) for protection and you've got a much more consistent deck.
With respect to Furnace Scamp, I won't be trying to fit him into my Kuldotha Red deck. I'm already at a loss of what to cut to include Artillerize....decisions, decisions.
And with respect to the English, I'll just say this: MPDC is a Euro-friendly PRE. And each Monday, I'm amazed at how well my fellow Paupers from across the pond use the language. Good work, folks :-)
I just realized that Volt Charge could potentially replace Lightning Bolt in my Allies deck! See ya!
Looking back on your list, I'd put tuck effects above thief effects for why players hate blue mages.
Tucking someone's commander is like kicking them in the nuts. I've done it, you should be able to do it, and it should be part of the game. But it should be saved for special circumstances and you shouldn't really enjoy it. When you bring out Proteus Staff you are telling other players that you will be kicking them in the nuts for the rest of the game. And when you pack Hinder, Spin into Myth, and Proteus staff you are saying that you enjoy kicking other players in the nuts.
Hey LE, Don't know if you are aware of this but at SOME point MODO will be aligning it's commander rules enforcement to match the official rules so Bringers will only be eligible for 5 color decks. That could be a long way off or it could happen next month.
It would be helpful to include a paragraph on the rules of the format, for new readers, or those who have forgotten what it was (like me.) Doing it in a opdown / hide box would be cool.
This is an interesting deck list. I would actually have a good time playing against it. I think that as much as blue theft frustrates me, the number one thing that blue does to make me angry is take extra turns. There's nothing more frustrating than sitting at the table for 20 minutes while the blue mage goes on and on.
As far as the "hate" you received in your recorded game (going on about how nobody likes the blue mage), I think that's just ridiculous. You had the most powerful board position leading up to that moment of "hate," so you were an obvious target. I might rescind what I said before about extra turns being the most irritating thing a blue mage can do. No, the MOST irritating thing a blue mage can do is play those sorts of cards and then whine about "poor sports," "wimps," and "haters." I'm not accusing you, just pointing out a tendency I've encountered in almost everyone who plays three Time Stretches in a row (recursion FTW?).
Jin-Gitaxis should be banned in Commander. That is my opinion.
I could be wrong, but I see most of the cards are relatively cheap considering. I may've just gotten lucky too with my cracks. If they made it as good as the Urza set i'd be thrilled - I haven't paid more than 3.25 tix for any Urza pack - and for some of them, I only paid 3, so I was saving tons :-D
There are a few Masques cards I'm looking forward to trying out in my commander decks. In addition to some of the ones on your list there is Spore Frog, Snake Pit, Rootwater Thief, Kor Haven, Tower of Magistartes, and a few others.
My worry is just how much Masques will make its way into the system. Seriously, not to many people are chomping at the bit to play Masqes limited. I have a feeling the good cards from this block will carry a heavy premium becuase of scarcity. This has already happened with the Tempest and Urza's block, and those are powerful and popular blocks. Hopefully Wizards will somehow heavily incentivises people to open packs of this.
I think it is funny that you went to all the trouble to pick a mono blue general that won't catch crazy hate, then at the end say you plan to switch to Jin Gitaxis. I mean, talk about making yourself a target.
Also, as said Phyrexian mana is still mana of it's color for color identities. Hopefully the MTGO interface gets that right. It irks me that some of the inconsistencies it has with the proper rules of commander still linger, (see bojuka bog, and the dawn bringer in your deck).
Props on not taking Bribery and it's ilk. It is a bold chose and you should be commended.
Lastly, I don't see to much point in having a pilgrems eye in a mono colored deck. I made this comment on your last pauper article, but it was like a week after the fact, so I don't know if you saw it. The 1/1 flyer is pretty irrelevent. I much prefer Wayfarerer's Bauble, for the same cost you get an accelerated land. Or just make it another land and skip the middle man.
I think that the problem with MBC's dominance is that it is a midrange control deck in a mostly aggro field. There really isn't and hasn't been much of a control presence at these events. The week I beat MBC with Grixis, I knew what was coming. Game one he was manascrewed and my burn + his 3x Sign in Blood caused a quick game, and Game 2 I just held counters for the life gain spells. It's not an impossible matchup, but there isn't a strong enough true control deck yet to complete the triangle of balance in the format.
Only two confusing things - one, why do you refer everything to how it'd be in Vanguard? I'm not complaining, just wondering. Two, for Crumbling Sanctuary, you said "it gets those Flashback cards where you want them" - that's incorrect, because it EXILES, not mills. And since it exiles, it becomes infinitely cooler for certain types of decks.
I think Jin-Gataxias as a general will put you at the top of the kill-the-blue-mage list. The best way to get rid if him is to kill the player before they get the 10 mana needed to cast him.
Also, I'm wondering if Karn will eventually be banned. I'm not sure how his re-start the game ability will be tolerated. Especially if MTGO puts you back into a game that you've already lost. Commander games are already long enough. And I know there are players that will use his ultimate if they can.
You should clarify whether you use paper rarities or not. Since you have to play regular classic games anyway, there's nothing stopping you from using paper rarities.
Luminarch Ascension is very broken if it comes out turn two. I've had that happen many times before and it is very irritating.
Yes, the Obliterator will be insane in monoblack decks, but it still falls to exile, -1/-1 counters, and removal. I don't see it dying to any sort of monogreen or monored deck.
Cast the strobe on the Souleater and then move something with shroud onto it?
Caged Sun is actually better than Gauntlet of Power since the mana generation is NOT symmetrical.
And Jin is not nearly as broken I don't think. The creature can't protect itself and is 10 mana...
Maybe, but if all you want is a cantrip to keep a card in hand I still think you could do better. Run Spreading Seas instead (an underused commander gem IMO). Being able to turn off someones maze, or coffers, or cradle, or academy ruins etc. will usually have far more impact then a chump blocker. It costs less mana to boot.
Jin-Taxis will ruin Commander games. -7 on the hand? That's broken beyond broken and as such Jin should be banned.
Also I asked an ORC and they told me that the life/mana costs from NPH will still be considered as the color. I asked especially for Commander colors.
Caged Sun is just a reprint of that Gauntlet of Power card, if that's the name.
They have Oblation too. Drawing 2 does take a little of the sting out though.
While agreeable it seems like white is just as guilty if not more so...though perhaps not, now that i think about it all i can think of is Hallowed Burial and Condemn
A very fun pair of articles to read with spot-on analysis on how these cards will be affecting the metagame. You really made me think twice about Apostle's Blessing. After reading your assessment, I find I highly undervalued it. The top ten is pretty close to mine, I just can't help but think that you meant to put Immolating Souleater where you put Slash Panther, it seems much more explosive and threatening than just a 4/2 haste.
That Glistener Elf combo does seem scary. But I'm skeptical. You need Forest, Mountain, Groundswell, Glistener Elf, and Assault Strobe for it to work. That's five out of your opening seven. I know for a fact that I'm not that lucky :-) Mono Green Infect seems much nicer to me thanks to Mutagenic Growth and Leeching Bite; Glistener gives you a top notch one-drop, SoM has Blight Mamba and Ichorclaw Myr as respectable two-drops, Rot Wolf is a potential card-drawing three-drop, and Blightwidow can be just nasty even in non-Infect strategies. Add Mutagenic Growth to the suite of pump spells (and perhaps Apostle's Blessing as Vines of Vastwood 5-8) for protection and you've got a much more consistent deck.
With respect to Furnace Scamp, I won't be trying to fit him into my Kuldotha Red deck. I'm already at a loss of what to cut to include Artillerize....decisions, decisions.
And with respect to the English, I'll just say this: MPDC is a Euro-friendly PRE. And each Monday, I'm amazed at how well my fellow Paupers from across the pond use the language. Good work, folks :-)
I just realized that Volt Charge could potentially replace Lightning Bolt in my Allies deck! See ya!
Looking back on your list, I'd put tuck effects above thief effects for why players hate blue mages.
Tucking someone's commander is like kicking them in the nuts. I've done it, you should be able to do it, and it should be part of the game. But it should be saved for special circumstances and you shouldn't really enjoy it. When you bring out Proteus Staff you are telling other players that you will be kicking them in the nuts for the rest of the game. And when you pack Hinder, Spin into Myth, and Proteus staff you are saying that you enjoy kicking other players in the nuts.
Hey LE, Don't know if you are aware of this but at SOME point MODO will be aligning it's commander rules enforcement to match the official rules so Bringers will only be eligible for 5 color decks. That could be a long way off or it could happen next month.
I think the point is to get a land in hand.
I will definitely do that from now on. Thanks!
For now, it's simply any number of commons and uncommons.
It would be helpful to include a paragraph on the rules of the format, for new readers, or those who have forgotten what it was (like me.) Doing it in a opdown / hide box would be cool.
Just my $.02.
This is an interesting deck list. I would actually have a good time playing against it. I think that as much as blue theft frustrates me, the number one thing that blue does to make me angry is take extra turns. There's nothing more frustrating than sitting at the table for 20 minutes while the blue mage goes on and on.
As far as the "hate" you received in your recorded game (going on about how nobody likes the blue mage), I think that's just ridiculous. You had the most powerful board position leading up to that moment of "hate," so you were an obvious target. I might rescind what I said before about extra turns being the most irritating thing a blue mage can do. No, the MOST irritating thing a blue mage can do is play those sorts of cards and then whine about "poor sports," "wimps," and "haters." I'm not accusing you, just pointing out a tendency I've encountered in almost everyone who plays three Time Stretches in a row (recursion FTW?).
Jin-Gitaxis should be banned in Commander. That is my opinion.
It also isn't in extended.
I could be wrong, but I see most of the cards are relatively cheap considering. I may've just gotten lucky too with my cracks. If they made it as good as the Urza set i'd be thrilled - I haven't paid more than 3.25 tix for any Urza pack - and for some of them, I only paid 3, so I was saving tons :-D
There are a few Masques cards I'm looking forward to trying out in my commander decks. In addition to some of the ones on your list there is Spore Frog, Snake Pit, Rootwater Thief, Kor Haven, Tower of Magistartes, and a few others.
My worry is just how much Masques will make its way into the system. Seriously, not to many people are chomping at the bit to play Masqes limited. I have a feeling the good cards from this block will carry a heavy premium becuase of scarcity. This has already happened with the Tempest and Urza's block, and those are powerful and popular blocks. Hopefully Wizards will somehow heavily incentivises people to open packs of this.
Ghostfire is probably a better option than Moonglove Extract I would think.
fairly sure that one isn't a rare...
Good stuff as always.
I think it is funny that you went to all the trouble to pick a mono blue general that won't catch crazy hate, then at the end say you plan to switch to Jin Gitaxis. I mean, talk about making yourself a target.
Also, as said Phyrexian mana is still mana of it's color for color identities. Hopefully the MTGO interface gets that right. It irks me that some of the inconsistencies it has with the proper rules of commander still linger, (see bojuka bog, and the dawn bringer in your deck).
Props on not taking Bribery and it's ilk. It is a bold chose and you should be commended.
Lastly, I don't see to much point in having a pilgrems eye in a mono colored deck. I made this comment on your last pauper article, but it was like a week after the fact, so I don't know if you saw it. The 1/1 flyer is pretty irrelevent. I much prefer Wayfarerer's Bauble, for the same cost you get an accelerated land. Or just make it another land and skip the middle man.
I think that the problem with MBC's dominance is that it is a midrange control deck in a mostly aggro field. There really isn't and hasn't been much of a control presence at these events. The week I beat MBC with Grixis, I knew what was coming. Game one he was manascrewed and my burn + his 3x Sign in Blood caused a quick game, and Game 2 I just held counters for the life gain spells. It's not an impossible matchup, but there isn't a strong enough true control deck yet to complete the triangle of balance in the format.
Only two confusing things - one, why do you refer everything to how it'd be in Vanguard? I'm not complaining, just wondering. Two, for Crumbling Sanctuary, you said "it gets those Flashback cards where you want them" - that's incorrect, because it EXILES, not mills. And since it exiles, it becomes infinitely cooler for certain types of decks.
Great article as usual!
I think Jin-Gataxias as a general will put you at the top of the kill-the-blue-mage list. The best way to get rid if him is to kill the player before they get the 10 mana needed to cast him.
Also, I'm wondering if Karn will eventually be banned. I'm not sure how his re-start the game ability will be tolerated. Especially if MTGO puts you back into a game that you've already lost. Commander games are already long enough. And I know there are players that will use his ultimate if they can.
I concur.