Unreleased and New Card Discussion

[Serenade]

I'm obsessed with Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat. Not sure what background to pair with her, but an ability based on casting noncreature spells...always feels strong. Maybe I am just bored of Kykar. Maybe this is the UR artifact deck I want? Perhaps a lot of ramp spells? No way I do another enchantress deck...

Would she work well with Feather, the Redeemed?

Oh, probably. I'm not sure what that deck runs, but at the very least, Livaan would eat a Fleshbag trigger instead of Feather.

I do like our new Sword Coast Sailor for Livaan. That might be it!

[folding_music]

wondering about Dynaheir, Invoker Adept with Zirda, the Dawnwaker... seems like a gnaturally good pairing and Dyna's blue splash gives you the sickest possible Azorius Guildmage. also Dyna's copying ability doesn't say nonland, or creature only, or whatever; it can double Karn's Bastion or Inventor's Fair or various Campuses, etc, as well as the Lithoform Engine craziness people might already be drooling over

[Venedrex]

I'm extremely excited about the new Simic Suspend matters general. Suspend is one of my favorite old mechanics, and I didn't want to just build Jhoira of the Ghitu because the play pattern of play my commander, suspend Obliterate doesn't really appeal to me. Just having fun with time in a hopefully less oppressive way seems like a lot of fun.

[Serenade]

Just feels like too much to track.

(Overall I am sick of tokens and counters.)

[RedCheese]

I'm extremely excited about the new Simic Suspend matters general. Suspend is one of my favorite old mechanics, and I didn't want to just build Jhoira of the Ghitu because the play pattern of play my commander, suspend Obliterate doesn't really appeal to me. Just having fun with time in a hopefully less oppressive way seems like a lot of fun.

From the comments about it, aparantly it isn't exactly suspend since the time counters wont remove itself during upkeep because they dont have the keyword suspend. Meaning that the only way to remove the time counters is to keep using Alando's ability

[Venedrex]

I'm extremely excited about the new Simic Suspend matters general. Suspend is one of my favorite old mechanics, and I didn't want to just build Jhoira of the Ghitu because the play pattern of play my commander, suspend Obliterate doesn't really appeal to me. Just having fun with time in a hopefully less oppressive way seems like a lot of fun.

From the comments about it, aparantly it isn't exactly suspend since the time counters wont remove itself during upkeep because they dont have the keyword suspend. Meaning that the only way to remove the time counters is to keep using Alando's ability

Oh yeah, for sure. I just like the idea of messing with time, even if the strategy isn't that strong. I like simic commanders that are on the weaker side, like Gor Muldrak, Amphinologist. Every time I see a Simic commander that isn't just absurdly strong it makes me happy. Not being able to Clockspinning is a little sad, but you can still Aeon Chronicler.

[Mookie]

Yeah, Alaundo the Seer not giving the exiled cards suspend is definitely going to cause some confusion. Still, seems amusing if you're playing it fairly - you can use Alaundo to cheat out massive nonsense, but waiting 8+ turns gives you a very long time with a massive target on your head, so you may just use them to provide a moderate tempo boost with cheaper spells. I like cards that give choices - you can be greedy and not-suspend something big with the downside of possibly never casting it, or you can get something you'll get quickly.

....or Alaundo could just devolve into a Seedborn Muse pile running a bunch of extra turns and untap effects such that a single activation is enough to win the game by itself, making him into yet another kill-on-sight Simic commander. But I would be shocked, shocked! if that were to happen.

[GuJiaXian]

A question about a few of the new initiative cards—for example, Imoen, Mystic Trickster and Safana, Calimport Cutthroat. Do you get the secondary "if you've completed a dungeon" trigger if you don't have the initiative? For example, If I have Imoen out and have completed a dungeon but don't have the initiative, do I get to draw a card? Or because of the "instead" clause do I only draw that card if I also qualify for the "have the initiative" trigger?

I apologize if I'm not explaining this clearly. Essentially I'm wondering if these two cards are useful in a dungeons deck (e.g., Sefris of the Hidden Ways) even if I don't have the initiative.

[WizardMN]

A question about a few of the new initiative cards—for example, Imoen, Mystic Trickster and Safana, Calimport Cutthroat. Do you get the secondary "if you've completed a dungeon" trigger if you don't have the initiative? For example, If I have Imoen out and have completed a dungeon but don't have the initiative, do I get to draw a card? Or because of the "instead" clause do I only draw that card if I also qualify for the "have the initiative" trigger?

I apologize if I'm not explaining this clearly. Essentially I'm wondering if these two cards are useful in a dungeons deck (e.g., Sefris of the Hidden Ways) even if I don't have the initiative.

You need Initiative for them to even trigger (and still need it on resolution for them to resolve). No Initiative: no trigger/effects.

[GuJiaXian]

A question about a few of the new initiative cards—for example, Imoen, Mystic Trickster and Safana, Calimport Cutthroat. Do you get the secondary "if you've completed a dungeon" trigger if you don't have the initiative? For example, If I have Imoen out and have completed a dungeon but don't have the initiative, do I get to draw a card? Or because of the "instead" clause do I only draw that card if I also qualify for the "have the initiative" trigger?

I apologize if I'm not explaining this clearly. Essentially I'm wondering if these two cards are useful in a dungeons deck (e.g., Sefris of the Hidden Ways) even if I don't have the initiative.

You need Initiative for them to even trigger (and still need it on resolution for them to resolve). No Initiative: no trigger/effects.

That's what I was afraid of. Thanks.

[Wallycaine]

Yeah, Alaundo the Seer not giving the exiled cards suspend is definitely going to cause some confusion. Still, seems amusing if you're playing it fairly - you can use Alaundo to cheat out massive nonsense, but waiting 8+ turns gives you a very long time with a massive target on your head, so you may just use them to provide a moderate tempo boost with cheaper spells. I like cards that give choices - you can be greedy and not-suspend something big with the downside of possibly never casting it, or you can get something you'll get quickly.

....or Alaundo could just devolve into a Seedborn Muse pile running a bunch of extra turns and untap effects such that a single activation is enough to win the game by itself, making him into yet another kill-on-sight Simic commander. But I would be shocked, shocked! if that were to happen.

One thing worth noting is that he works well with cards that *already* have suspend, since they'll still remove counters on the upkeep and when he activates the ability. Could be particularly spicy with Aeon Chronicler, since that'll get you 5 cards fairly quickly for "free".

[Hawk]

Name and number crunch have ruled out Dockside Extortionist for a reprint. I'm hoping we see the Fierce Guardianship cycle since that isn't crunched out yet I don't think. Reprint equity feels a bit low so far.

[TheAmericanSpirit]

Scion of Halaster and Erinis, Gloom Stalker seems like it could be a pretty deece combination.

[kirkusjones]

Scion of Halaster and Erinis, Gloom Stalker seems like it could be a pretty deece combination.

A funky little Loam engine. I dig it. I've been thinking about splitting Tasigur good stuff into Oskar reanimator and Titania lands, but this may be a more fun combo, plus I get to run Gitrog…

[Hawk]

Raggadragga. Goreguts Boss fascinates me and I might dismantle my Samut, Voice of Dissent "Fires of Yavimaya" deck for him to take the helm instead. Losing a mass-haste in the Command Zone is a shame, but he synergizes with the rest of that deck's gameplan in a very intriguing way. If he doesn't take the helm he's at least jumping into the '99 since that deck runs like 15 mana dorks currently.

EDIT: Oghma's Archivist is here to be the best new card so far. It's no Opposition Agent or Hullbreacher since they still get their cards, but the more competitive your circle is the better it gets and you can force the issue with Path to Exile and Ghost Quarter. Seems sick!

[Mookie]

Yeah, Oghma's Archivist looks quite solid, and probably the most generically useful card revealed so far. Pretty toned down compared to Opposition Agent, but still very good... and because it's so toned down, it's actually plausible that you will get multiple triggers off it, which is nice.

[DirkGently]

@Hawk note that both those effects are "may" so you can't force it per se. Ofc they'd probably be crazy not to take it, unless it's down to lategame 1v1 or something.

Personally I'd say it's a lot better than opposition agent since agent is basically a 1-shot value and then "opponents can't search libraries". If you want to lock them down then agent is better, but if you just want your own value then oghma's is where it's at. Plus it's a mana cheaper. Really good card.

[Wallycaine]

@Hawk note that both those effects are "may" so you can't force it per se. Ofc they'd probably be crazy not to take it, unless it's down to lategame 1v1 or something.

Personally I'd say it's a lot better than opposition agent since agent is basically a 1-shot value and then "opponents can't search libraries". If you want to lock them down then agent is better, but if you just want your own value then oghma's is where it's at. Plus it's a mana cheaper. Really good card.

Amusingly enough, the humble Fertilid *doesn't* have a may on it, so you can turn it into a weird divination once you've drawn enough. Presumably never your primary play, but an amusing option.

[duducrash]

Name and number crunch have ruled out Dockside Extortionist for a reprint. I'm hoping we see the Fierce Guardianship cycle since that isn't crunched out yet I don't think. Reprint equity feels a bit low so far.

A friend of mine said he saw on youtube that WOTC has focused on legenda this week, so meaty reprints may come?

[Dragonlover]

Been a bit bummed out by the amount of non-red dragon tribal support, but Ganax, Star Hunter is gonna be very spicy in my Lathliss deck.

Dragonlover

[NZB2323]

Raggadragga. Goreguts Boss fascinates me and I might dismantle my Samut, Voice of Dissent "Fires of Yavimaya" deck for him to take the helm instead. Losing a mass-haste in the Command Zone is a shame, but he synergizes with the rest of that deck's gameplan in a very intriguing way. If he doesn't take the helm he's at least jumping into the '99 since that deck runs like 15 mana dorks currently.

EDIT: Oghma's Archivist is here to be the best new card so far. It's no Opposition Agent or Hullbreacher since they still get their cards, but the more competitive your circle is the better it gets and you can force the issue with Path to Exile and Ghost Quarter. Seems sick!

Oghma's Archivist pairs the best with Winds of Abandon. Both of those cards are going into my cleric tribal deck, and I like Agent of the Shadow Thieves over Cultist of the Absolute. I don't have to sacrifice with Agent of Shadow Thieves and it makes it easy to swing in with Tymna.

[pokken]

The combo of archivist plus winds is gonna close games hard. I like that.

[Cyberium]

I much prefer Oghma's Archivist to be WW, really. A small change, but would at least be "slightly" discouraging for 3+ color decks to run it.

[folding_music]

just a slight inkling but mmm
all the black Background commanders wanna be paired with green backgrounds
all the green Background commanders wanna be paired with black backgrounds
lol
afr: the rock and his millions

[Igzex]

If only Kolressa had Choose a Background...

Anyways man it has gotten a LOT harder to choose 100 cards for my Ur-Dragon and we're still not even done yet...