Ixalan [XLN]

[rufus]

Unrelated - what is the correct plural? I looked online and for every source that says one, there is another source that says another.

Standard English is "octopuses." The word origin is greek, so the plural could be "octopodes" if you were feeling silly. "Octopi" is formally incorrect, but common.

[PirateKing]

Unrelated - what is the correct plural? I looked online and for every source that says one, there is another source that says another.

Octopoxen. Then fight anybody who says otherwise.

[DarthVicious]

So if the wording on Hostage Taker is correct, it can target itself, for some infinite ETBs/draw action?

Hostage Taker 2UB
Creature — Human Pirate (Rare)
When Hostage Taker enters the battlefield, exile target artifact or creature until Hostage Taker leaves the battlefield. You may cast that card for as long as it remains exiled and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any type to cast that spell.
2/1

If this wording is correct, you have to pay four mana every time to get him into play again. Nothing on it says the removed card could be cast for free, simply that you can ignore color requirements. It still needs to be cast.

[UseLess]

Octopoxen. Then fight anybody who says otherwise.

You're all wrong. It's Octopussies, obviously. And they're going to be the new support tribal of the cats EDH deck!

[H]

If this wording is correct, you have to pay four mana every time to get him into play again. Nothing on it says the removed card could be cast for free, simply that you can ignore color requirements. It still needs to be cast.

The issue isn't that you would cast it over and over, it's that by removing itself it returns itself, infinitely.

"When Hostage Taker enters the battlefield, exile target artifact or creature until Hostage Taker leaves the battlefield."

[Claymore]

If this wording is correct, you have to pay four mana every time to get him into play again. Nothing on it says the removed card could be cast for free, simply that you can ignore color requirements. It still needs to be cast.

The text is Oblivion Ring/Fiend Hunter but with "you may also cast that card yourself" tacked on. When it leaves the field, the exiled card returns to play.

[DarthVicious]

The issue isn't that you would cast it over and over, it's that by removing itself it returns itself, infinitely.

"When Hostage Taker enters the battlefield, exile target artifact or creature until Hostage Taker leaves the battlefield."

Dumbfounded how I missed that ... they may errata it to 'another target' then.

[EpicLevelCommoner]

This may not be best for Legacy, but Shaper's Sanctuary looks like it'd be hilarious paired with two Spellskite. Granted it requires an opponent to be the one casting a spell that can be redirected to Spellskite, but if they do, you can save the original target and draw X+1 cards in exchange for 2*X life and one of the Spellskites.

[Barook]

This may not be best for Legacy, but Shaper's Sanctuary looks like it'd be hilarious paired with two Spellskite. Granted it requires an opponent to be the one casting a spell that can be redirected to Spellskite, but if they do, you can save the original target and draw X+1 cards in exchange for 2*X life and one of the Spellskites.

Wouldn't Leovold do the same thing on a card that is actually good? Actually, Leovold + Spellskite sounds like a fun combo - they play removal for Leovold, you get +2 CA and they still have accomplished jackshit.

[Ronald Deuce]

Standard English is "octopuses." The word origin is greek, so the plural could be "octopodes" if you were feeling silly. "Octopi" is formally incorrect, but common.

I sense a fellow classicist/antiquity enthusiast.

[rufus]

I sense a fellow classicist/antiquity enthusiast.

Nah, just a pedantic jerk.

[kirkusjones]

Octopi is not the preferred nomenclature. Octopedes, gentlemen, please.

[Barook]

As for combos with the Pirate, it's a human, so it could go infinite with Champion of the Parish/Thalia's Lieutenant in some kind of Human Esper build with Cavern of Souls and some quality humans, including the white Recruiter to assemble the combo.

Addendum:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't Hostage Taker be used with Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit to get infinite Bolster triggers? Put Bolster trigger on the bottom, stack Pirate on top, Pirate resolves and returns, another round of triggers, rinse, repeat, end it with an army of Bazillion/Bazillion beaters. Bonus points for having Walking Ballista in play (which is also recruitable).

The actual scary thing is that all those cards are Modern-legal (well, except Recruiter of the Guard).

[Claymore]

It's a little irrelevant, but you would need a third creature to kill with Anafenze + Pirate. If you have the choice to end an infinite loop you must, so eventually you'd have to exile Anafenza instead of the pirate.

There are tons of two card infinite combos that the Pirate enables if it's printed as leaked.

[Cire]

There are tons of two card infinite combos that the Pirate enables if it's printed as leaked.

Certainly a lot of cheap infinite life combos

1 CC

Essence Warden - Infinite Life
Soul Warden - Infinite Life
Soul's Attendant - Infinite Life

2 CC

Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit - Infinite Power (but require at least 1 more creature in play)
Ninth Bridge Patrol - Infinite Power (but require at least 1 more creature in play)
Auriok Champion - Infinite Life
Beck (Beck/Call) - Infinite Draw
Genesis Chamber - Infinite Tokens
Impact Tremors - Infinite Damage
Suture Priest - Infinite Life

[rufus]

...
Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit - Infinite Power (but require at least 1 more creature in play)
...

This came up twice, but can't you just remove Anafenza and then let the bolster triggers pump up Hostage Taker?

[Dice_Box]

I think Hostage Taker is meant to only be able to target opponents creatures. The way it is written as well as the title leaves me with the flavour of someone taking an hostage and flipping it to your side.

There was a creature, I don't remember what it is, that was printed without "Artifact" in its type line despite being an artifact boarder. It was errataed to be an artifact. Perhaps, if they have made an actual mistake here, that might happen.

[Claymore]

I guess that's true, I thought bolster targeted. A third creature would let you combo and swing that turn.

[ReAnimator]

Alter of the Brood, is infinite mill, only 1 cost and on colour.

[Ace/Homebrew]

There was a creature, I don't remember what it is, that was printed without "Artifact" in its type line despite being an artifact boarder. It was errataed to be an artifact. Perhaps, if they have made an actual mistake here, that might happen.

Walking Atlas