MTGNexus

Yeah, it's pretty much a win con for Atraxa on it's own. Doubling Season, Pir, Imaginative Rascal, proliferate etc, and all of a sudden the game is on easy mode.

Outside of that it's decent enough value, although that ult is scary enough that I wouldn't expect it to last on the table long.

SocorroTortoise wrote: ↑

4 years ago

Sinis wrote: ↑

4 years ago

And yet, I rarely play Bant, or a deck that wants this, so my copy gathers dust.

Pretty much where I sit on the card. I like it a lot and almost never run a deck where it would fit. I'll put together bant tokens or something someday, mostly to try and force this and Huatli, Radiant Champion. Maybe Chulane, Teller of Tales once ELD drops would be a good fit?

Maybe Chulane! I was thinking perhaps Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa along with a partner that makes Bant (Thrasios is the low-hanging fruit, but Ishai has evasion). But, I guess I don't find Bant very inspiring (Chulane is no exception to that, either).

Thursday, September 5th, 2019; Inferno

Oh, Mairsil, the Pretender has a long history eh. Instant speed and having a the dark printing is cute, but I can't see myself running this over something that's XR for X damage (like Rolling Earthquake, Earthquake, Subterranean Tremors) or XRR for X damage with upside (Fault Line, Magmaquake, Starstorm).

At least it hits flyers though, but I don't see that upside being enough to run it. Maybe mono-red boardwipe tribal wants it, incase that decks is a thing, or some 93/94 theme deck.

I ran this for a while in my Iroas because instant speed damage wipe. It wasn't too shabby, but it won't cut it in most lists in a Blasphemous Act world. I'd jam Chain Reaction before this in most lists too.

It's not a bad card it just looks like to me one I could overlook for better types of removal.

Sweet artwork though.

3drinks wrote: ↑

4 years ago

Thursday, September 5th, 2019; Inferno

Melting candle dude!

I've played this on-and-off in decks that lack black or white. Weirdly, the 7 cmc cost is in line with cards that have similar functionality but were printed much later; it's roughly the same as Fated Retribution and Rout with its additional cost.

I think it has been mostly outpowered over the years, but, I have a fondness for it.

My preferred version of Inferno is Jaya Ballard, Task Mage. 7 mana is a lot for a board wipe, and other, better options exist, such as Starstorm, Chain Reaction, and Blasphemous Act. Inferno does have the ability to also hit players, but if you really care about that, I think I would go with Earthquake (or the almost-strictly-better Rolling Earthquake, if you have access to it).

Mookie wrote: ↑

4 years ago

My preferred version of Inferno|DRK is Jaya Ballard, Task Mage.

Yep. I've basically cast this card many, many times but I've never actually included a copy in a deck.

SocorroTortoise wrote: ↑

4 years ago

Mookie wrote: ↑

4 years ago

My preferred version of Inferno|DRK is Jaya Ballard, Task Mage.

Yep. I've basically cast this card many, many times but I've never actually included a copy in a deck.

The hottest thing is, you can give her lifelink and protection from red/indestructible/whatever pretty easily. If you have enough mana, you can use her with Glory to save all your creatures. (But if you have that kind of mana, the game's usually almost over.) Another option is to use Rootborn Defenses.

hyalopterouslemur wrote: ↑

4 years ago

SocorroTortoise wrote: ↑

4 years ago

Mookie wrote: ↑

4 years ago

My preferred version of Inferno|DRK is Jaya Ballard, Task Mage.

Yep. I've basically cast this card many, many times but I've never actually included a copy in a deck.

The hottest thing is, you can give her lifelink and protection from red/indestructible/whatever pretty easily. If you have enough mana, you can use her with Glory to save all your creatures. (But if you have that kind of mana, the game's usually almost over.) Another option is to use Rootborn Defenses.

Something tells me he already uses lifelink/protection and that white cards aren't an option.

lyonhaert wrote: ↑

4 years ago

Something tells me he already uses lifelink/protection and that white cards aren't an option.

It's true. I may have played a Jaya deck a couple times in my MTG career.

Mookie wrote: ↑

4 years ago

My preferred version of Inferno is Jaya Ballard, Task Mage.

I came here to say this. Inferno is much better when it has lifelink, is repeatable, doesn't actually cost you a card.

Friday, September 6th, 2019; Savageborn Hydra



I always liked this guy. Sizable threat that both scales to where ever your curve is weak, and acts as a mana sink to get massive. Would look a lot more threatening with trample though.

Like the card and ability. Hate that the ability can only be accessed as a sorcery. Really weakens it to me.

3drinks wrote: ↑

4 years ago

Friday, September 6th, 2019; Savageborn Hydra

I think the lack of evasion always pushed this out of my decks. I like everything about it, except that. I can even live with the sorcery speed activation to make it stronger.

I've started calling that ability regimen. On a creature, it's awesome. It kinda sucks as an aura, though. (Not as bad as Torture, but still...)

The lack of evasion or even trample is the biggest issue. Basically, you need Brawn or some other way to grant trample. The good news is, there are plenty of ways to do just that. Alternately, you can grant flying; in Gruul colors, there are fewer ways to do that, so you're probably relying on artifacts. Or if you're also in white or blue. Or just use something like Whispersilk Cloak.

Savageborn Hydra is scary beater and mana sink. Sorcery speed activated ability and no evasion makes it a lot weaker though. Seems like it might be good if you have a consistent way to grant it trample and/or haste - maybe in a Xenagos, God of Revels deck?

I think that Managorger Hydra and Taurean Mauler are often going to be better creatures in the 'cheap hydra that grows really big' category. They are slower though - you won't get a giant double-striking threat the turn you play them.

Saturday, September 7th, 2019; Nature's Revolt

Fun with Grismold?

I prefer Natural Affinity to this.

For when you want to be a dick with Massacre Wurm, but not enough to sell a kidney for Living Plane.

BeneTleilax wrote: ↑

4 years ago

For when you want to be a dick with Massacre Wurm, but not enough to sell a kidney for Living Plane.

Let's not pretend that Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite isn't the *real* tech for Nature's Revolt.

3drinks wrote: ↑

4 years ago

I prefer Natural Affinity to this.

Natural Affinity is cheaper and (with Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite) a one-sided Armageddon).

This is (again, with Elesh Norn) a huge middle finger to the whole table.

In other news, people who complain about land destruction are still uncreative.

[mention]Serenade[/mention] How is this fun with Grismold? The lands aren't tokens.

The obvious usage for Nature's Revolt is to make MLD easier - works with Elesh Norn, Plague Wind, Massacre Wurm, and others. Or just cast Wrath of God and let the world burn. Alternatively, if you really don't want a control deck to cast a wrath effect, turning their lands into creatures could ward that off.

Another usage is as a combo piece - there are a lot of ways to untap all your creatures, including Aggravated Assault, Intruder Alarm, Benefactor's Draught, Village Bell-Ringer, and others. At that point, all these effects become rituals, with some just trivially going infinite.

It also functions as a Kismet effect, since lands being creatures means they are affected by summoning sickness. This can be pretty annoying.

Sylvan Advocate is a solid anthem for land creatures, while Terra Eternal makes them indestructible.