[SCD] Spectral Lynx.

[DragoFireheart]

Spectral Lynx
1W
Creature - Cat

Protection from Green.

B: Regenerate.


Why don't we see more deck abusing this little guy to fights aggro-control decks that run Gofys? Wouldn't he be useful in the mirror when fighting two counter-top decks are fighting each other?

[KrzyMoose]

Because those decks also run Swords to Plowshares, Counterbalance, and Vedalken Shackles.

Furthermore, while you're playing two-mana 2/1s, other decks are playing one-mana 3/3s, two-mana 4/5s, one-mana 12/12s, two-mana 5/5s.

I mean, I love the card - it used to be one of my favorites back in the day - but it just doesn't do anything. There are much, much, much better ways to combat CounterTop.

*edit* Let me ask you this: Would you play the following card?

Wall of ICANBLOCKCREATURESALLDAY 0
Creature - Wall
Indestructible
0/1

I know I wouldn't.

[Elf_Ascetic]

1. Quasali Pridemage is better in the mirror.

2. Jotün Grunt is better at actually stopping / killing a goyf.

3. 2 mana for a 2/1... We can do better then that. EDIT: See post above.

4. You have to run black to make him really useful, and the 2cc slot in those decks are clogged already by Dark Confidant, Hymn to Tourach, Tidehollow Sculler and other good things.

5. It gets hosed by the format, Spell Snare, CB, StP, etc.

[Goblin Snowman]

*edit* Let me ask you this: Would you play the following card?

Wall of ICANBLOCKCREATURESALLDAY 0
Creature - Wall
Indestructible
0/1



Can I run it with Welder?

My vote for why it's not played is entirely due to it's size. Fanatic going away makes him slightly more playable, but the small power, inability to get past a Factory, and 2cc make him not sexy. I would rather run River Boa right now because the thing can at least always get in there for 2, and block decently.

[Citrus-God]

Can I run it with Welder?

My vote for why it's not played is entirely due to it's size. Fanatic going away makes him slightly more playable, but the small power, inability to get past a Factory, and 2cc make him not sexy. I would rather run River Boa right now because the thing can at least always get in there for 2, and block decently.

And you get to run Green, and you get to run Goyf.

[beastman]

White black died out with the printing of tarmagoyf and the shift to eva green. Now, with grip, maelstrom pulse and leech, eva green is just the way to go, hands down.

[DrJones]

Spectral Lynx has just one problem, and that one problem is called trampling damage, and is entirely useless against it.

[Tacosnape]

White-Black died because there aren't enough good creatures in that particular color schematic. The whole thing works just fine once you splash green and have actual decent threats in the deck. And Spectral Lynx isn't even in the top five amongst the ones they do have.

[Atwa]

I used to play that card in my old Angel Stompy list, and he did pretty well. Of course this was before Goyf was printed, but even then he was pretty good.

Although I must say I maindecked Pariah in that list, with Threshhold en Goblins and main contenders in those days, that was pretty much game over.

[FoolofaTook]

White-Black died because there aren't enough good creatures in that particular color schematic. The whole thing works just fine once you splash green and have actual decent threats in the deck. And Spectral Lynx isn't even in the top five amongst the ones they do have.

White-Black died because of Tarmogoyf, period. Everything else that makes White-Black less valuable in the meta at the moment is related to a 1:g: fatty that enables green splash decks to dominate with a big threat regardless of whatever else they do.

[beastman]

Spectral Lynx has just one problem, and that one problem is called trampling damage, and is entirely useless against it.

What are you talking about? What playable creatures that are relevant even have trample?

[Zlatzman]

What are you talking about? What playable creatures that are relevant even have trample?
Phyrexian Dreadnought seems fairly relevant.

[beastman]

He doesn't seem to be in the category of creatures that get chump blocked though. Plus, shatter makes that deck scoop anyway.

[DragoFireheart]

He doesn't seem to be in the category of creatures that get chump blocked though. Plus, Pridemage makes that deck scoop anyway.


Fix'd that for you since no one runs Shatter anymore.

[lorddotm]

Fix'd that for you since no one runs Shatter anymore.

5-6 stifles...

Just saying.

[Elfrago]

Linx requires a W/B shell, wich isn't exactly common nowadays.

Also, Linx abilities are very good when you're trying to not lose the game, but good luck winning the game with it.

[Skeggi]

With Day of Judgement this card just became a bit more interesting.

[tivadar]

The fact is lynx would have been good prior to the power level of creatures shooting through the roof. Now it just isn't. As someone mentioned, 1 mana for 3/3's, 3 mana for 5/4's. 2 mana for 2/1's? No thanks.

[Finn]

Furthermore, while you're playing two-mana 2/1s, other decks are playing one-mana 3/3s, two-mana 4/5s, one-mana 12/12s, two-mana 5/5s.

I mean, I love the card - it used to be one of my favorites back in the day - but it just doesn't do anything. There are much, much, much better ways to combat CounterTop.

*edit* Let me ask you this: Would you play the following card?

Wall of ICANBLOCKCREATURESALLDAY 0
Creature - Wall
Indestructible
0/1

I know I wouldn't.I actually think I might play that creature, but I want to point out that the reasoning here is spot-on. There are four possible scenarios to consider when deciding if you should be using a creature with the same converted mana cost as a Tarmogoyf (in a grossly simplified manner, but the lesson should be clear enough).

1. Opponent has Tarmo and you have nothing = You are on a ~4 turn clock.
2. Opponent has Tarmo and you have Lynx = Mexican standoff
3. Neither have these creatures = nothing to see here
4. You have Lynx and opponent has nothing = Opponent is on a ~10 turn clock.

This is why the single best card to handle Tarmogoyf is Tarmogoyf in virtually every deck.

[The Rack]

I think Lynx is underrated. The regen is overlooked like in this thread. It comes back from most lethal effects and makes decks deal with him. Although I think I am currently one of the only people that run him in a deck. He's good when you already have a Tarmo out so you can keep hitting them for 2 and worst case go back on the defensive. My 2 cents.

[lorddotm]

I think Lynx is underrated. The regen is overlooked like in this thread. It comes back from most lethal effects and makes decks deal with him. Although I think I am currently one of the only people that run him in a deck. He's good when you already have a Tarmo out so you can keep hitting them for 2 and worst case go back on the defensive. My 2 cents.

The problem with that is that he is just so slow. Why not just remove their Tarmogoyf and beat face with yours?

[The Rack]

Because he is more than just anti Tarmogoyf. He stops all the big dudes in the format with regenerate too. Your deck should already be paking anti Tarmo but Lynx is just an accent to it while still doing something on it's own. It likes holding a Jitte too.

[_erbs_]

Maybe if its regen cost was :w: instead of :b: maybe it would have seen more playing time.

Like the above posts their are alot of creatures thats better than him.

[lorddotm]

Because he is more than just anti Tarmogoyf. He stops all the big dudes in the format with regenerate too. Your deck should already be paking anti Tarmo but Lynx is just an accent to it while still doing something on it's own. It likes holding a Jitte too.

It likes holding a Jitte is an awful argument because every creatures does. Hell my freakin Llanowar Elves and Cursecatchers LOVE holding them because Jitte is broken.

The point being he is very inefficient for his mana cost. a 2/1 Pro Green Regenerator for 2 in pretty bad colours is so much worse than just playing Tarmogoyf or Naught.

The main beaters of the format are Tarmo, who he has protection from, which is nice; Dreadnaught, who just tramples over him; and Tombstalker who just flies over him. Swords kills all three of those by the way.

[The Rack]

He likes Jitte because he walks right past Tarmogoyf. That's where the advantage would be over Llanowar Elves.

My main point is not that he can block every single relevant creature in the format but he kills the relevant ones confi, mage, piledriver, merfolk, and more and lives.

He is by no means the best 2 drop but he is better than you think. I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

[FoulQ]

The main beaters of the format are Tarmo, who he has protection from, which is nice; Dreadnaught, who just tramples over him; and Tombstalker who just flies over him. Swords kills all three of those by the way.

To be fair most decks running spectral lynx are probably running 4 swords. And to also be fair: Tarmo can't deal with dreadnaught or tombstalker, and tombstalker can't deal with dreadnaught. And dreadnaught can't deal with plenty of noncreatures.

Just looking at the DTB forum:

Landstill painfully slow. but can regen from disk/explosives I guess?
ANT, nice clock.
Merfolk, can barely compete with their guys, unlike the three allstar beaters.
Goblins, he is alright I suppose, though goblins can overwhelm a 2/1 fast.
Zoo, this is interesting and I'm not sure how it would play out.
Countertop, it is alright
Tempo Thresh, lol cool.

I think Finn summed it up the best, it basically explained why he sucks in the goyf era.

[kiblast]

Necro'ed.

I wanted to open a [SCD] for this cool cat, but then I thought that for sure there was already one. And here it is.

Just some quick thoughts:

- Pro-Green is now extremely relevant, you know why. Way more than just blocking a Goyf and survive. Jund and BUG lists currently play up to 4 Decays maindeck. And you can just regenerate from a Bolt.

- The guys in the Death and Taxes thread are suggesting black splash. Spectral Lynx seems to perfectly fit a vial deck like that. Mother of runes gives protection from other colors (since Stp still exists). This kitty seems a decently good critter to attach all those equipments at, and at the same time is a nearly unkillable creature in a RUG / BUG / Jund / 4c Deathrite.deck meta. Being able to connect your swords even without a MoR out seems relevant.

- Seriously guys is a freaking purple phantasm cat, it's flavorful and looks awesome in foil!

[Barook]

I think that Mirran Crusader is better than Lynx, despite dying to burn, since he can be a brutal threat, especially with equipment.

[kiblast]

I think that Mirran Crusader is better than Lynx, despite dying to burn, since he can be a brutal threat, especially with equipment.

True. But still if you play White/Black the regeneration aspect is amazing as it makes the kitty virtually unkillable, except from being Stp'ed. In a Bolt heavy meta seems incredibly good. And we both know how Jund is gaining popularity and Tempo Thresh is still a thing.

Edit: Just had a quick look at the most played cards chart on TCdecks. The most played spot removals are Abrupt Decay and Lightning Bolt. Goyf is the most played creature. Last month Stp was the most played spot removal but now it doesn't even figure in the top 20 most played cards.

[Gheizen64]

It's a 2/1 that is basically a megawall for lot of creatures but deal nothing offensively. Sure it's good against Jund, but it's not like you win the game right there against them with it. Crusader is better and win against every creature in Jund too, but need a MoM to function against bolt too. On the other hand, a Knight is good even offensively.

[Mewens]

I'm terrible at reading dates, and was seriously wondering why no one was mentioning Abrupt Decay in the earlier comments. My clue was Dreadnought being mentioned without a snarky /sarcasm tag next to it (and Tombstalker, I guess).

On this card: Maybe I'm terrible (wouldn't be the first time, as we all know from my first sentence), but doesn't Lingering Souls just one-up this guy? They strike me as filling the same niche – evasive dudes that can play defense if they have to – but Souls just seems like it gives a ton more flexibility.

[GGoober]

I think Lynx is underrated. The regen is overlooked like in this thread. It comes back from most lethal effects and makes decks deal with him. Although I think I am currently one of the only people that run him in a deck. He's good when you already have a Tarmo out so you can keep hitting them for 2 and worst case go back on the defensive. My 2 cents.

I love Lynx but the fact that he has regen for B doesn't make the checkmark that he passes the Legacy test. Will'OWisp also has regen and is cheaper to cast and can potentially chump Clique. The issue is that having mana requirement to maintain regeneration costs is a resource-strain, in addition to both Lynx/WillOWisp being completely worthless as an attacker. When you are spending 2 mana for an answer to Goyf that requires one B a turn to maintain, you are behind on the resource and your opponents will pull ahead from you with other cards. Goyf has always been as simple and true to his cause: 1G for a reliable attacker/defender, and if your opponent can't find an answer in 4 turns, he's dead.

[TsumiBand]

Protection is an odd duck, it seems like it should go a long way towards dealing with threats but unfortunately a lot of the time it's on a smallish creature that's actually readily handled via other means. Decks that run Goyf, KotR, and so on have a funny habit of running removal, most of which is surprisingly non-Green.

Also, any deck that is really interested in running a protection strategy is probably just playing Mother of Runes, which can represent protection from all the things.