Life from the Loam questions

[Pastorofmuppets]

Question 1: How does it (or dredge in general) work with Sylvan Library? If I replace 1 (or more) of my draws with a dredge, can I put the dredged card on top of the library?

Question 2: not really a rules question; but why does nobody exploit the Loam/Scroll Rack draw engine?

[Aggro_zombies]

1) I'm not 100% certain, but I'm fairly certain that the dredging happens at the time you would have drawn a card. So if, for example, you opt to replace the second draw off of Library with dredge, you'd draw for your turn, then draw from library, then dredge, then put two cards you've drawn this turn back on top (or pay 4 life however many times).

2) Scroll Rack doesn't draw cards, and there are easier ways to get things from your hand into your graveyard than dredging for Loam.

http://beta.gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4628

[Obfuscate Freely]

Question 1: How does it (or dredge in general) work with Sylvan Library? If I replace 1 (or more) of my draws with a dredge, can I put the dredged card on top of the library?
You may replace any or all of the draws (including your draw for the turn) with a dredge ability, but a card returned to your hand in this way does not count as being drawn. Therefore, you must choose two other cards that you have drawn this turn, and put them back, or pay four life for each one that you keep.

If you replace all three of your draws with some other effect (such as dredging three times), and therefore have not drawn any cards once Library's trigger resolves, you do not have to pay life or put anything back on top of your library.


Question 2: not really a rules question; but why does nobody exploit the Loam/Scroll Rack draw engine?
http://www.wizards.com/magic/images/mtgcom/products/futuresight/lexicon_BZEP.jpg

[MMogg]

If you replace all three of your draws with some other effect (such as dredging three times), and therefore have not drawn any cards once Library's trigger resolves, you do not have to pay life or put anything back on top of your library.

Indeed, that kind of replacement trick isn't new to dredge. Unless I was making a big mistake, I ran Sylvan Library with Abundance (http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=130483) in an Oath deck many years ago.

[Obfuscate Freely]

Indeed, that kind of replacement trick isn't new to dredge. Unless I was making a big mistake, I ran Sylvan Library with Abundance (http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=130483) in an Oath deck many years ago.
Yeah, I remember that combo, as well. Sylvan Library will also charge up a Pursuit of Knowledge in one turn, and of course it works pretty well with the Onslaught Words cycle.

Enchantress decks have toyed around with Library, forever.

[citanul]

Scroll Rack doesn't draw cards, and there are easier ways to get things from your hand into your graveyard than dredging for Loam.


I suppose you mean, play loam for 3 lands, activate Rack for 3 putting the lands back and dredging them on the next draw which basicly draws you 3 cards for 2G every turn. It proved to be to slow during my testing.

[Pastorofmuppets]

I suppose you mean, play loam for 3 lands, activate Rack for 3 putting the lands back and dredging them on the next draw which basicly draws you 3 cards for 2G every turn. It proved to be to slow during my testing.

Yes, that is precisely what I mean. I was using it in a Terrageddon-style deck. It felt good, TBH. Although Shrinking my Terra was a little counter-intuitive, the 3-5 cards drawn per turn (2 from Library, 3 from loam/rack) proved to be a hell of a late-game strategy.

Last question; also not rules
How much are racks going for? Online stores are selling them anywhere from $4-$8. LCS has one for $7. Should I be challenging that price or scooping that up?

[Malchar]

I've consistently seen racks for $5 to $8, which confuses me because I've never seen one being played. I think that the price is inflated due to speculation. It's definitely "almost" good.

Loam + Scroll rack gives card advantage but it is a rather hefty mana investment. You also need to locate two specific cards and rely on the graveyard. Using Sensei's Divining Top + fetchlands still lets you dig three-deep, but you don't really get card advantage. The advantage here is that sensei's costs much less, and with sufficient fetchlands in a deck, you only really need to locate the top. The top also protects itself, there's no graveyard dependence, and fetchlands are mostly uncounterable.

[Aleksandr]

Question 2: not really a rules question; but why does nobody exploit the Loam/Scroll Rack draw engine?

I hate to be that one-liner guy, but:


Loam + Scroll rack gives card advantage but it is a rather hefty mana investment. You also need to locate two specific cards and rely on the graveyard. Using Sensei's Divining Top + fetchlands still lets you dig three-deep, but you don't really get card advantage. The advantage here is that sensei's costs much less, and with sufficient fetchlands in a deck, you only really need to locate the top. The top also protects itself, there's no graveyard dependence, and fetchlands are mostly uncounterable.

This.