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[xfxf]

too cute?

This applies only if the RIP decks are playing 1-of to set it up with Enlightened Tutor and you are lucky enough to mill it when they are unprepared enough to set it up without counter backup. If you take a look at the current thread discussing the maindeck RIP-Helm-Energy Field combos you can see that people are trying the full playset.

[Jak]

too cute?

This applies only if the RIP decks are playing 1-of to set it up with Enlightened Tutor and you are lucky enough to mill it when they are unprepared enough to set it up without counter backup. If you take a look at the current thread discussing the maindeck RIP-Helm-Energy Field combos you can see that people are trying the full playset.

I haven't read the article but it does look like the reasoning is to "counter" E Tutor. It isn't meant to permanently rid the pieces (because, as you said, they run more than one) but more so as a good tempo play in a tempo deck.

[lordofthepit]

Does anyone else feel this is going to be a pretty lame set for Legacy purposes, even though it's pretty awesome overall (in terms of value, etc.)?

None of the shocklands will be relevant in Legacy (since they already exist and don't see much play). Rest in Peace will probably see the most play, but it's primarily a sideboard card. Abrupt Decay is probably the most powerful in a vacuum, but it's tied down to a bad color combination. Supreme Verdict and Detention Sphere give U/W Control a mild boost, but nothing backbreaking (except that it will prevent Merfolk from ever being the #1 deck again). Everything else (including Judge's Familiar and Dryad Militant, which I kind of like) probably won't see more than fringe play.

Compare that to something like Avacyn Restored. Terminus, Entreat the Angels, and Griselbrand gave rise to new decks, and Cavern of Souls has become a staple in another. And that's in a small set!

[FieryBalrog]

I haven't read the article but it does look like the reasoning is to "counter" E Tutor. It isn't meant to permanently rid the pieces (because, as you said, they run more than one) but more so as a good tempo play in a tempo deck.

Of course, if you have top out you can trade your top for the combo piece against thought scour (still sucks, but if the game's over because of it you don't care).

Compare that to something like Avacyn Restored. Terminus, Entreat the Angels, and Griselbrand gave rise to new decks, and Cavern of Souls has become a staple in another. And that's in a small set!

AVR was a big set.

[Hanni]

Everything else (including Judge's Familiar and Dryad Militant, which I kind of like) probably won't see more than fringe play.

I wouldn't be so sure.

Dryad Militant is a really good card, and could very well become more relevant as they continue to print more sets. Savannah Lions with built in graveyard hate (that you don't have to spend any mana on) might create some new type of Zoo deck.

Judges Familar, on the other hand, is going to be a sleeper I think. It works extremely well with Thalia, and Thalia herself is being extremely underutilized right now. People play her in Maverick, sure, but the only other synergy it has with her is Wasteland, and she doesn't play nice with GSZ. I've been trying to work on some lists with Familiar + Thalia, but it's been a slow process. Maybe it will end up being fringe, but it could also spawn some interesting non-blue tempo decks... especially if that sort of strategy gets some more love in future sets.

[Greenpoe]

I wouldn't be so sure.

Dryad Militant is a really good card, and could very well become more relevant as they continue to print more sets. Savannah Lions with built in graveyard hate (that you don't have to spend any mana on) might create some new type of Zoo deck.

Judges Familar, on the other hand, is going to be a sleeper I think. It works extremely well with Thalia, and Thalia herself is being extremely underutilized right now. People play her in Maverick, sure, but the only other synergy it has with her is Wasteland, and she doesn't play nice with GSZ. I've been trying to work on some lists with Familiar + Thalia, but it's been a slow process. Maybe it will end up being fringe, but it could also spawn some interesting non-blue tempo decks... especially if that sort of strategy gets some more love in future sets.

Maybe some Spawnwrithe/Elvish Spirit Guide/Noble Hierarch deck backed by Judge's Familiar/Wasteland/Thalia/Port and of course Stoneforge and Horizon Canopy. I dunno, but playing a T1 Thalia/Stoneforge (into Batterskull on turn 2) sounds pretty good. Perhaps with Chrome Mox as well as some Ancient Tombs and Lodestone Golems. With SB Choke.

[Barook]

Perhaps with Chrome Mox as well as some Ancient Tombs and Lodestone Golems.

I'm currently working with such a deck, although it's monowhite and currently runs Glowrider over Familiar to supplement Thalia and Lodestone Golem.

Thalia Angel Stompy

[Lord Seth]

Terminus, Entreat the Angels, and Griselbrand gave rise to new decks, and Cavern of Souls has become a staple in another. And that's in a small set!

What new decks did Griselbrand create? As far as I can tell he just gets plugged into existing Show and Tell or Reanimator builds. It's like saying that Master of the Pearl Trident made a new deck.

Miracles is kind of a new deck in that it at least gets a different name, but at its heart it's really just CounterTop with some added tricks.