WotC Card Previews

[Pinder]

We've got a new one from this article:

Evangelize 4W
Sorcery (R)
Buyback 2WW
Gain control of target creature of an opponent's choice that he or she controls.

Wow, that's bad.

What I'm more interested in though, is the second to last line of the article:

Well, here's the deal. I've already written all about it. But you can't see it for another four turns…which translates into, oh, about a week. Then the article (and the card) will come into play.

I honestly skimmed, so I have no idea. Any thoughts?

[Drathro]

We've got a new preview card (and a half [not a half card, just an incomplete preview]) at Wizards today, which people will probably talk about.

What i got from the preview is that Suspend just got better - it seems you can suspend stuff at any time you have priority:

A card with suspend gives you the following ability: As a special action - which means this can only be done when you have priority but doesn't use the stack - you may remove a card with suspend from the game. Because the special action doesn't use the stack, it cannot be responded to. This means it cannot be countered or manipulated in any way. Also note that targets aren't chosen yet. You then pay the suspend cost and add the appropriate number of time counters. At the beginning of each of your upkeeps, you'll remove a time counter. When the last counter comes off, you must play it, although you do not pay the mana cost. It is at this time that targets for the spell are chosen and that the opponent has a chance to respond to it. This is the point where you are allowed to counter it or manipulate it in some way. If the spell was a creature, it gains haste when played, meaning it can attack the turn it comes into play.

This means that you can suspend cards during your opponent's turn. This makes the new Lotus Watchamacallit just a smidge better for sure, and means that suspend might actually be useful in control decks (EOT suspend).

[Ewokslayer]

We've got a new preview card (and a half [not a half card, just an incomplete preview]) at Wizards today, which people will probably talk about.

What i got from the preview is that Suspend just got better - it seems you can suspend stuff at any time you have priority:

This means that you can suspend cards during your opponent's turn. This makes the new Lotus Watchamacallit just a smidge better for sure, and means that suspend might actually be useful in control decks (EOT suspend).

That is not correct.
From the official rules at the bottom of the page
502.59. Suspend

502.59a Suspend is a keyword that represents three abilities. The first is a static ability that functions while the card with suspend is in a player's hand. The second and third are triggered abilities that function in the removed-from-the-game zone. "Suspend N--[cost]" means "If you could play this card from your hand, you may pay [cost] and remove it from the game with N time counters on it. This action doesn't use the stack," and "At the beginning of your upkeep, if this card is suspended, remove a time counter from it," and "When the last time counter is removed from this card, if it's removed from the game, play it without paying its mana cost if able. If you can't, it remains removed from the game. If you play it this way and it's a creature, it gains haste until you lose control of it."

* The phrase "if you could play this card from your hand" checks only for timing restrictions and permissions. This includes both what's inherent in the card's type (for example, if the card with suspend is a creature, it must be your main phase and the stack must be empty) and what's imposed by other abilities, such as flash or Meddling Mage's ability. Whether you could actually follow all steps in playing the card is irrelevant. If the card is impossible to play due to a lack of legal targets or an unpayable mana cost, for example, it may still be removed from the game with suspend.

[Drathro]

That is not correct.
From the official rules at the bottom of the page
502.59. Suspend

502.59a Suspend is a keyword that represents three abilities. The first is a static ability that functions while the card with suspend is in a player's hand. The second and third are triggered abilities that function in the removed-from-the-game zone. "Suspend N--[cost]" means "If you could play this card from your hand, you may pay [cost] and remove it from the game with N time counters on it. This action doesn't use the stack," and "At the beginning of your upkeep, if this card is suspended, remove a time counter from it," and "When the last time counter is removed from this card, if it's removed from the game, play it without paying its mana cost if able. If you can't, it remains removed from the game. If you play it this way and it's a creature, it gains haste until you lose control of it."

This is what I originally thought, but I didn't realize there were official rules hiding at the end of the article. In that case, Rosewater just did a crappy job of introducing Suspend, and I read half an article, when I should have read the fine print.

[quicksilver]

As for today's puzzle card. I'm pretty sure I got the main part of the card. I didn't bother with most of it but I'm pretty sure it is a legendary creature with converted mana cost 7 or greater that has "Whenever you play a creature spell, put X 1/1 Thrulls into play where x is that creatures converted mana cost. When there are 7 or more thrulls in play sacrifice him." Doesn't seem very good since he costs a fortune and requires you to cast other creatures, making him sub par in reanimator even.

[Alfred]

As for today's puzzle card. I'm pretty sure I got the main part of the card. I didn't bother with most of it but I'm pretty sure it is a legendary creature with converted mana cost 7 or greater that has "Whenever you play a creature spell, put X 1/1 Thrulls into play where x is that creatures converted mana cost. When there are 7 or more thrulls in play sacrifice him." Doesn't seem very good since he costs a fortune and requires you to cast other creatures, making him sub par in reanimator even.

I think he costs 4 mana, and he's legendary, which is why he dies. 2BB if I'm not mistaken with the ability you described.

Also, he's a 2/2.

[quicksilver]

I think he costs 4 mana, and he's legendary, which is why he dies. 2BB if I'm not mistaken with the ability you described.

Also, he's a 2/2.

Oh yeah he doesn't have to be 7 mana. I was thinking he does because he dies if you play another one, thinking that the tokens will kill him but the legendary part kills him.

[tivadar]

Currently there are two cards I'm looking at, and thinking they could actually be good, and they're both red:

Word of Seizing
Instant R
Split second (As long as this spell is on the stack, players can't play spells or activated abilities that aren't mana abilities)
Untap target permanent and gain control of it until end of turn. It gains haste until end of turn.

Nothing startling, but to sieze anything your opponent has without giving them a chance to do anything just seems like it could be good.

Ignite Memories
Sorcery U
Target player reveals a card at random from his or her hand. Ignite memories deals damage to that player equal to that card's converted mana cost.
Storm (When you play this spell, copy it for each spell played before it this turn. You may choose new targets for the copies.)

An interesting potential storm combo card. Not awesome, but a lot better than tendrils, as it's mono-red, and can potentially do a lot more than tendrils can per storm count. Against decks that run high cc cards (rock and truffle shuffle), it seems like a better choice (especially with seething song and the like).

[Aggro_zombies]

An interesting potential storm combo card. Not awesome, but a lot better than tendrils, as it's mono-red, and can potentially do a lot more than tendrils can per storm count. Against decks that run high cc cards (rock and truffle shuffle), it seems like a better choice (especially with seething song and the like).

The question is, is there a red storm combo deck out there? The advantage of Tendrils is you can go black/blue and have all the same things red and blue would have in terms of draw, but the mana acceleration is cheaper and therefore better.

The card I'm interested in is Phyrexian Totem:

Phyrexian Totem (U)
3
Artifact
Tap: add B to your mana pool.
2B: ~ becomes a 5/5 black Horror artifact creature with trample until end of turn. Whenever ~ is dealt damage, if it's a creature, sacrifice that mana permanents.

I really like it for Pox as a nice clock and a compliment to Nether Spirit and Chimeric Idol. Getting mana out of it is hawt too, but I really like the "5/5 trample" bit because it's a really fast clock post-Pox. Of course, Negator drawback and 2B to activate hurt it...a lot...

[Bane of the Living]

The question is, is there a red storm combo deck out there? The advantage of Tendrils is you can go black/blue and have all the same things red and blue would have in terms of draw, but the mana acceleration is cheaper and therefore better.

The card I'm interested in is Phyrexian Totem:

Phyrexian Totem (U)
3
Artifact
Tap: add B to your mana pool.
2B: ~ becomes a 5/5 black Horror artifact creature with trample until end of turn. Whenever ~ is dealt damage, if it's a creature, sacrifice that mana permanents.

I really like it for Pox as a nice clock and a compliment to Nether Spirit and Chimeric Idol. Getting mana out of it is hawt too, but I really like the "5/5 trample" bit because it's a really fast clock post-Pox. Of course, Negator drawback and 2B to activate hurt it...a lot...

This card may be a good replacement for Negator in alot of cases. Especially in Pox! He'll be cast safely out of your hand if your opponent taps out but he wont be a target for swords. You have time to peel the removal from your opponents grasp. This card will probably be huge with Mutilate or even Deed under 3. I cant wait to see the red, white, and green totems.

[Tacosnape]

I think he costs 4 mana, and he's legendary, which is why he dies. 2BB if I'm not mistaken with the ability you described.

Also, he's a 2/2.

He could also be 3B, if you count Parallax Dementia as a permanent bonus.

Anyway, his name is Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder. He's on the quote of Derelor. I 'think' his art is #16.

[Di]

Withering Dark 4B
Instant
Destroy target nonblack creature.
Madness B


What is this? Cheap removal for madness maybe?

[Canook]

Withering Dark 4B
Instant
Destroy target nonblack creature.
Madness B


What is this? Cheap removal for madness maybe?

Tog!

[TheDarkshineKnight]

Wow, Tog is a happy camper.

[Drkdstryer]

He could also be 3B, if you count Parallax Dementia as a permanent bonus.

Anyway, his name is Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder. He's on the quote of Derelor. I 'think' his art is #16.

No, a solution has been found for 4B. I think that kinda stops his usefulness :\

EDIT: Actually a method has just been found for 5BBB... there are just too many options (the 5BBB is pretty far-fetched, it involves Mycosynth Golem and 11 0cc artifacts). It all depends on what Jeff Till decided to use really. I don't think a definitive mana cost will be shown until Wednesday.

[troopatroop]

B/u/g MadnessLoamAggroTog got a nice tool.

[Aggro_zombies]

Today's card: Wheel of Fate. Suspend 4 - 1R (no actual casting cost), each player discards their hand and draws seven. So...it's a great way for burn to refill its hand late game to go for that final push, but beyond that, I don't see it having much use. A lot of decks that could play this card kinda want to, you know, do something on turn two. Like, something other than play a spell that won't actually be useful for another four turns. That said, will this see any play in Legacy? It's a great effect...

Especially in Pox! He'll be cast safely out of your hand if your opponent taps out but he wont be a target for swords. You have time to peel the removal from your opponents grasp.

Yeah, that's my reaction too. It's too bad I won't be able to play it this weekend when I take Pox to my local Legacy tournament...which reminds me, someone should bump that Pox thread.

[Anarky87]

Yeah, that's my reaction too. It's too bad I won't be able to play it this weekend when I take Pox to my local Legacy tournament...which reminds me, someone should bump that Pox thread.

Is your recent list on there? You could bump with your list update.

Edit: Or PM your list, I enjoy Pox updates. That way it's not really unneccesarilly bumping it.

[TheDarkshineKnight]

I'll say it: Suspend fucking blows. Sure, it'll be interesting in Standard Constructed, but, in formats with larger card pools like Legacy and Vintage, there's so much mana generation that trading tempo so as to spend less mana is a death wish.

[quicksilver]

I'll say it: Suspend fucking blows. Sure, it'll be interesting in Standard Constructed, but, in formats with larger card pools like Legacy and Vintage, there's so much mana generation that trading tempo so as to spend less mana is a death wish.

Agreed, suspened is not a Legacy mechanic at all and probably will not show up in any competitive legacy decks. It's not for us, let's just ignore it instead of complaining about it. However abilities like split second are for us, we just need them to put it on a good card.