Have you seen any Walking Dead cards in the wild?

[RxPhantom]

Now that they've long since shipped, in-store play is phasing in, and webcam games are still going strong, have any of you encountered any Walking Dead cards in your games? Are you using them? Have you played against them? Are you trying to use the social contract to discourage their use? Are you being a jerk about it?

I have yet to encounter them, but last week at my LGS, one guy was saying that he'd refuse to play against a deck helmed by one of these cards. I disagreed, saying that even though I hate everything about them, I think it's cruel and mean-spirited to exclude a player for their choice in legal commanders.

What say you, Nexus? Do you even care about these cards? Have you encountered them? Have they caused any problems, in-game or out?

[Sinis]

What say you, Nexus? Do you even care about these cards? Have you encountered them? Have they caused any problems, in-game or out?

Caveat: I'm in a locked down area of Canada; LGSs are not open, and in-person play has not happened.

Over the pandemic, I have played with the same 8-12 people, over and over. None of us wanted to play TWD cards.

I think in a couple of months when more places are open, we'll see.

I think it's cruel and mean-spirited to exclude a player for their choice in legal commanders.

I do not. I do not want to play against someone's cEDH pubstomp pile while I don't have a competitive deck, even though both decks are "legal". There are lots of reasons to decline playing with someone, and I think not wanting to play against TWD is totally fair (though, I would play against them).

[Moonlighter]

I really don't think it's a worry for me. My current group that we've just gotten together in the last month (3-4 other guys) would not play them, and when we get the larger band back together, I think most of those people are like-minded. That said, there are many, many commanders I will never play, for cost or lack of interest, so having a few more on that list doesn't bother me that much. I agree that the idea of TWD commanders is wicked dumb, but I also don't need to punish someone for thinking it was cool.

[Krishnath]

No I have not, nor do I think I ever will.

Here's the thing, I am not against the "Universes Beyond" product line, at all. Indeed I am incredibly excited for the LotR's set they announced during the unveiling. But I think the Walking Dead secret lair was incredibly poorly handled on WotC's part. But the concept of Universes Beyond is good I think, as it will bring in new players to our hobby, which is always a good thing.

Personally, I think it is up to each individual play group to whether or not they want to include the cards from those sets, on a set by set basis if need be. If someone wants to build a deck with cards from it, fine, not a problem. They just have to have a deck with them without said cards in them if the group they want to play with don't allow them. But I don't really see this as a bad thing, I mean, how many of us only have the *one* deck they play? I mean, I currently have two dozen, and a friend of mine has eight active decks at any given time. I see no difference between banning or allowing said cards in your play group, than say, for example banning an unfun commander (and there is a few of those, I had to give up my Sliver Queen deck because of the collective groan whenever I pulled it out. Lol.)

[onering]

I've only seen Rick Grimes, once, in a Sisay Humans deck.

[hyalopterouslemur]

Expecting another wave, so while I am going put for work and to buy essentials, I'm not going to FNM until I'm proven wrong.

[duducrash]

I dont think I am at risk of facing them, WOTC doesnt ship SLairs to my country, thats why Im so upset, its geographical competitive advantage

[Dragoon]

Me and my playgroup split that Secret Lair. I took Negan, the Cold-Blooded for Golos since I love this type of "mind game" design. I haven't had the chance to play the deck since COVID so I don't know how good he will be. I don't have any interest for The Walking Dead and I don't know who that guy is (from my understanding based on the comments at the time, he's kind of a big jerk), but I'm not going to pass on it because of the IP or the business model. I kept my old foil copy of Goblin Assassin around so that I can switch those two if it really bothers people but I don't think it will be necessary.

[Legend]

I don't mind them except for flavor. TWD just doesn't suit Magic. Cars, cowboy boots, and shotguns ends all immersion for me. I hope Wizards gives them the Godzilla flavor treatment with mechanical reprints.

[Ruiner]

A friend built a deck led by Negan, the Cold-Blooded with Lucille in the deck and it is a perfectly fine deck. It didn't seem overpowered and he is a pretty unique. Conjurer's Closet made him pretty mean but nothing that couldn't be overcome.

My playgroup isn't bent out of shape over Walking Dead cards or other intellectual properties at all so it didn't get any comments at all in that regard.

[ISBPathfinder]

I have a Daryl deck (decklist). I did get some grumbling about the walking dead product but I pointed out that he can be bought as a singleton for under $5. When the product released his price was under $1 so that mostly got most people ok with him.

I think I likely would have gotten more flack if I was running Rick, Steadfast Leader or Negan, the Cold-Blooded given price points / controversial characters.

I really like Daryl though as I get to play a somewhat unique controlling gruul build which is very unusual for the colors. I haven't seen anyone else running any of them in person though.

[Hermes_]

and then at the end like a stab in the heart.




if oyu can't see the tweet it says "Implementing something similar to this with The Walking Dead isn't off the table in the future. We want to use this new Secret Lair drop as a way to gauge feedback, gather responses, listen, and see if that approach makes sense before diving in and making Magic-universe cards." wizards_magic

[onering]

That honestly does a lot. Makes them more like Godzilla skins.

[Hermes_]

That honestly does a lot. Makes them more like Godzilla skins.

not so much

[Wallycaine]

That honestly does a lot. Makes them more like Godzilla skins.

not so much

More like =/= exactly the same as. It's worth noting that Aaron Forscythe has gone on to explain that they *will* have some sort of treatment that denotes that they are related, but that they are not ready to give specifics at this time.

[JWK]

I have not. Other than playing with my wife and one other couple, all of my playing in the recent past has occurred on PlayEDH/Spelltable. Negan is banned on PlayEDH; the other TWD cards are not banned, but I have never encountered them. I personally want nothing to do with the TWD versions, but would be glad to see them reskinned in MtG format. I have seen some people online promoting a version of the Rick character reskinned as Odric that seemed 100% appropriate for both the established character of Odric and the mechanics of the card.

[LightningHelix]

I have not either, but to be fair I haven't played physical magic since the coof varus. Living in Canada, it might be a little longer until that becomes commonplace again.

I think refusing to play someone who plays these cards is a bit of an overreaction though. I had my fair share of knee-jerk reactions when these first came out, but they aren't so good that they are staples or anything and I *think* wizards got the message that the community frowns on this type of thing, so I don't think exclusive staple cards are going to get printed from these products.

To me its like getting mad at the reserved list existing and refusing to play someone who plays reserved list cards. I don't personally agree with the reserve list making cards exclusive, but I don't pack up the moment I see a Volcanic Island (hypocrite here though, I play those cards.)

Do I like that Wizards makes products in this way? No.
Do any of them actually ruin a game of EDH? I don't think so.
Only one I'd consider running is Negan, the Cold-Blooded because my Mardu aristocrats deck loves to make my opponents sacrifice and makes good use of treasures. I don't think he is by any means obligatory in the archetype though. I guess Rick, Steadfast Leader has a place in human decks if that's your thing.

The fact these are rarely seen and have some unique effects does draw me to them not going to lie. Then again, I've convinced people to let me play Grimlock, Dinobot Leader // Grimlock, Ferocious King as my commander, because its unique and dosen't do anything remotely broken.

Just my hot take, to each their own.