[SCD] Venser, the Sojourner

[Damnosus]

Venser, the Sojouner
3UW
3 Loyalty
+2 Exile target permanent you own. Return it to the battlefield at the beginning of the next end step.
-1 Creatures are unblockable this turn.
-8 You get an emblem with "Whenever you cast a spell, exile target permanent.

My guess is that this card will be much like Tezzeret for legacy: a cool card that just doesn't really cut it competitively (Tezzeret is probably better too considering that most U/W decks don't want to spend 5 mana on a card which doesn't really change the game at all). That being said, it is in the best colors for for planeswalkers (Jace/Elspeth), so maybe it would have a place somewhere?

[naurthal]

At 5 mana, the only thing this guy would do in legacy is pitching to FoW.

[Aggro_zombies]

It, um, gives your manlands vigilance...and, uh...

Yeah, I'm not seeing it. Only the -1 is good in this format (the -8 takes too much work, and how many cards will you have in your hand still on turn eight?).

EDIT: Now that I think about it, he does allow you to play more sorceries in your deck but still have mana up on the opponent's turns (+2 your tapped lands).

[Vacrix]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs206.ash2/46915_10150261684860307_201120755306_14304134_3804239_n.jpg

Better pic. It looks pretty underpowered right now unless they print something with a pretty powerful CIP.

[majikal]

What's the source of this image? The abilities don't really seem related at all, so I'm inclined to believe it's just another fake.

[Vacrix]

There's multiple sources and pictures. Its legit. The abilities are kind related, exiling permanents but its not really that good anyway. Probably won't see play in legacy at 5cc.

[Pastorofmuppets]

So, for EDH's sake, do the emblems stack?

[Nessaja]

I'm just not seeing how it would be any good at all. In its current state legacy doesn't really havy anything that would justify this? I'm guessing something will be printed alongside.

[Valdez]

What's the source of this image? The abilities don't really seem related at all, so I'm inclined to believe it's just another fake.
pt amsterdam preview party:
http://www.planetmtg.de/articles/artikel.html?id=5593
http://www.planetmtg.de/articles/artikel.html?id=5592

verser sucks...

[Nonex]

I see some potential in some sort of controllish decks that don't want their few creatures stolen by Sower of Temptation or Vedalken Shackles, maybe 1 in addition to the usual Jaces and/or Elspeths. Who knows if UW Stax would also like to reset Tangle Wires, update Oblivion Rings to the current game state, or abuse Monoliths more easily, if there are any.

[Nazdakka]

This card only makes sense if you are doing something broken with the +2 ability. What do we have in terms of ridiculous 'Enters the Battlefield' triggers?

[naurthal]

This card only makes sense if you are doing something broken with the +2 ability. What do we have in terms of ridiculous 'Enters the Battlefield' triggers?

Excluding cards we can't get onto the battlefield for a reasonable cost(cmc<5), it's eternal witness(close to "could work"), loxodon hierarch(sucks), Oblivion ring(irrelevant), Ranger of eos(unnecessary), trinket mage/stoneforge mystic(really weak effect for 5 mana).

Okay, eternal witness would be the best option, but it's still 8 mana combo in three colors that just plainly sucks. It isn't even infinite and needs another cards to work. And it only produces slow card advantage. Oh and it's a planeswalker, so it's hard to tutor for him.

[dahcmai]

Red Akroma likes this guy too. It's a house in standard, but not so hot in legacy sadly. It's not the 5 mana that's the problem. It's the fact that he doesn't really have many interactions. Now if he could hit opponents stuff, I might like him more.

About the best use I can think of for him in Legacy is to turn off your own Humility for a turn, attack, and then let it go back on. Amusing.

[dontbiteitholmes]

Meh, I see very little potential in this card for Legacy. So little in fact that I question why this is getting it's own thread as opposed to being discussed in the general SOM spoiler thread.

[jrsthethird]

This card only makes sense if you are doing something broken with the +2 ability. What do we have in terms of ridiculous 'Enters the Battlefield' triggers?

Bojuka Bog
Vendilion Clique
Kitchen Finks

Glen Elandra Archmage seems good, you get a Negate every turn.
Blink your Standstill and play something. Sure, your opponent gets instants, but they can't affect the board state very much on their side.
Combos with Jace for infinite bounce; bounce a guy twice, Jace is at 1, blink Jace, comes back at 3.

etc.

[perm]

most definitely worthless in legacy, maybe good in standard.

[Grollub]

Venser and Elsepth2 were obviously designed together.

Spew out 3 tokens per turn, turn them unblockable, blow up everything and venser saves himself or another 'walker. Yeah. They are pretty much just making T2 UW control for us...

[Barook]

Bojuka Bog
Vendilion Clique
Kitchen Finks

Glen Elandra Archmage seems good, you get a Negate every turn.
Blink your Standstill and play something. Sure, your opponent gets instants, but they can't affect the board state very much on their side.
Combos with Jace for infinite bounce; bounce a guy twice, Jace is at 1, blink Jace, comes back at 3.

etc.
It works kinda well with Reality Acid, but that card is bad by itself.

[Goaswerfraiejen]

Also Eternal Witness. Don't you remember the deck that used to run around cycling things and putting them in and out of play? What was it called... Astral Slide?

Except, of course, that Slide is better, since you can use it as an instant and it only costs 2W.

[Antonius]

FTK? lol what am I talking about.

[ebbitten]

Any large morph creature could prove alright, and I'm not quite sure how it works but illusionary mask might work with it. Still looks like standard/casual power level more than legacy though.

[Jeff Kruchkow]

In legacy, its bad. But in standard and possibly New Extended, it is a definite inclusion in the planeswalker decks as you can go bonkers with their - abilities and then zoom them out to reset the loyalty counters. Being able to helix with Red Ajani every turn and then reset his loyalty seems really good.

[menace13]

Do not think it has the Power level to be good in Legacy, but in new Extended maybe with Lark.dek it could be good.

[Benjammn]

In legacy, its bad. But in standard and possibly New Extended, it is a definite inclusion in the planeswalker decks as you can go bonkers with their - abilities and then zoom them out to reset the loyalty counters. Being able to helix with Red Ajani every turn and then reset his loyalty seems really good.

I agree with this assessment. Between Wall of Omens, Sun Titan (well, Titans in general), Sea Gate Oracle, Mulldrifter and many, many more positive interactions in Standard and Extended, Venser is very good at surviving while providing significant CA leading to either alpha-striking your opponent or to ultimate and barrage their permanents into exile. Venser is the best card for Standard spoiled so far.

[dahcmai]

An interesting thing you can do with him is to use the unblockable ability over and over then blink himself to reset the counters. That's kind of cheap.

[pippo84]

I agree with this assessment. Between Wall of Omens, Sun Titan (well, Titans in general), Sea Gate Oracle, Mulldrifter and many, many more positive interactions in Standard and Extended, Venser is very good at surviving while providing significant CA leading to either alpha-striking your opponent or to ultimate and barrage their permanents into exile. Venser is the best card for Standard spoiled so far.

Totaly agreed. It's good with something that has a god CIP or draws cards.

Anyways another thing could possibly be Standstill. Bounce it, play and then it returns before that player's turn..

[Noman Peopled]

Seems good and very fun in casual. Sorcery-speed blinking can - what, unmorph something, get a etb or lb effect, untap something, reset counters ... at five mana, I'm not seeing it. It would need a lot of support to really shine and I highly doubt a deck half-full of things that jive with Venser would be better than a deck full of good things that jive with any of the good PWs.

If the second ability were any good you could refuel your counters by blinking Venser himself every other turn, but even that seems brittle. If you have a deck that wants unblockability, a one-shot effect should do on turn five unless you were never really in the game - at which point you're not in a position to race anyway. Nice, but compared to other options, severely underwhelming.

Even the ultimate sucks. Yes, it sucks. You play this thing off five freaking mana, then three whole activations (a.k.a. "turns") and you have no immediate impact? You have to cast stuff before you cast Venser for it to be even remotely useful, then you have to cast stuff past its ultimate? No, the first ability is the only one that could be potentially useable, the second and third are nice boni but nothing more.

[jrsthethird]

Might be good if there's something that says "When this ETB, proliferate."

[rufus]

In addition to CITB stuff, the 'disappear for a turn' stuff could be neat with:
Stuff that has vanishing, fading, or cumulative upkeep like Maelstrom Djinn or Ancestral Knowledge.
Since it's own and not control, you can use it with cards that exchange control like Gilded Drake or Puca's Mischief
Obviously, you can use it to hide stuff from sweepers.
Cards with 'leaves the battlefield' abilities like everything with unearth.
Restrictor cards like Trinisphere.

[Darkenslight]

I actually think that this will surpass Jace, the Mind ****er in cost. He has one very relevant ability, one aggro ability, and a bonkers Ultimate. 'Cast a spell, exile a permanent'? Nice hard-lock there with any instants, and awe-inspriing with Flashback cards.

[DragoFireheart]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs206.ash2/46915_10150261684860307_201120755306_14304134_3804239_n.jpg

Better pic. It looks pretty underpowered right now unless they print something with a pretty powerful CIP.

The first ability is good for triggering CIP effects or for resetting loyal counters on planeswalkers.

The second ability allows a alpha strike for your creatures.

The third ability is freaking ridiculous.

[Kagehisa]

Slithermuse anyone ?

[markbris]

The first ability is good for triggering CIP effects or for resetting loyal counters on planeswalkers.

The second ability allows a alpha strike for your creatures.

The third ability is freaking ridiculous.

Jace 2.0 is a much stronger card though, comes down 1 turn earlier, can protect itself and its ultimate actually wins the game.

[arwall]

You could use it in combination with Kor Hookmaster or even Kor Cartographer to get an extra Plains out pretty much every turn.

[Tammit67]

You could use it in combination with Kor Hookmaster or even Kor Cartographer to get an extra Plains out pretty much every turn.

Yeah, but then you have to play Hookmaster or Cartographer

[arwall]

Hookmaster isn't really a bad play. Cartographer is pretty costly, though for what it accomplishes.

[Hopo]

Hookmaster is terrible. This is legacy, after all. Also, an extra plains per turn is hardly something you win games with. Take a look at the decks to beat forum (DTB) to get a grasp on what kind of decks are played. Do note that majority of the decks decide the game during the first 3-4 turns. Some are capable of winning in the first turn.

[Jolly_roger]

I actually think that this will surpass Jace, the Mind ****er in cost. He has one very relevant ability, one aggro ability, and a bonkers Ultimate. 'Cast a spell, exile a permanent'? Nice hard-lock there with any instants, and awe-inspriing with Flashback cards.

It was avery long time since i saw somebody be more wrong than you

[knopfler]

Hi all.

I'm new forum user, so hi everybody :).

I was looking on google opinions about this planeswalker when I landed in this post so I decided register and coment a "casual" combo for legacy tournments I think it could be fine for this planeswalker but maybe pro players won't like it but anyway I'm going to post and see what do you think. Sorry for opening again this old thread.

I have a white stax legacy deck. It's not a usual white stax because I recently added a blue splash because a card I saw that I liked: paradox haze which does the following:

At the beginning of enchanted player's first upkeep each turn, that player gets an additional upkeep step after this step.

So you add a additional upkeep to your opponent for each paradox haze you have in play. This is great to abuse tangle wires and smokestacks where if you have a smokestack with 1 counter and you have 2 paradox hazes you will force your opponent to sacrifice 3 permanents/turn, 1 normal upkeep and other 2 because of paradox hace effects. The same thing happens with tangle wires.

Advantages of Venser (in my particular deck):
1) tangle wires always with 4 counters for your opponents: Well, the thing is that Venser allows to reset tangle wires counters because of the first skill: +2: Exile target permanent you own. Return it to the battlefield under your control at the beginning of the next end step.
If you have 1 paradox haze on play you will tap always 8 permanents to your opponent and you will make him sacrifice 2 permanents with a smokestack with 1 counter, and you can always reset smokestack counters in case you are not interested on keep destroying things
2) Smokestacks counters reset: if you have the game controlled then you can reset smokestacks counters.
3) You can tap city of traitors to get 2 colorless manas from them then exile it and play another city of traitors and you won't need to destroy the first one.

For other decks or builds:
4) If you have a green splash, you could use Knight of the Reliquary ability, use Venser ability and you will have at the end of your turn Knight of the Reliquary untapped so you could use ability after have attacked with it or have used Knight of the Reliquary ability previously.
5)If you have stoneforges and several equipments in the deck you could search several with this planeswalker ability
6) If you have Bone Shredder (Mox diamond/scrubland) you could kill no black/artifacts creatures.

I think this card has potential in legacy specially the third ability where you exile permanents each time you play a spell.

Regards.

[Dice_Box]

That sounds very interesting, but you are more likely to get the input you seek if you start a new thread. Put your list and what you see as it's advantages in a thread in the Developing forum and I will dig into it with you. I love Stax.

[knopfler]

Thank you.

Normally I find combos that nobody uses in legacy tournments. For instance, using dovescape with multani's presence in a enchantress deck in main deck with no sideboard.

Normally enchantress has issues against control decks, so I use to cast multani's presence:
Whenever a spell you've cast is countered, draw a card.

Control decks will never counter this enchantment and if you think of it it's like having a "alternative" enchantress because control decks will give you free draws everytime they counter any enchantment bomb, so if you combine with dovescape and wheel of sun and moon (and also energy field) you will be recycling your deck while you put 1/1 blue birds and as you draw often than your opponent you will win and you will avoid restarting cards like nevinyrral's disk, engineered explosives, Reverent Silence and similar cards.

I'm going to post the white/blue stax. My sideboard is not the best as has been passed time ago since I don't go to any tournment and metagame in USA or Spain where I live or other countries and cities can change a lot. I realized of that when I was purchasing mtg cards in usa and I saw huge different prices between some cards and anothers and it's because different metagames (normally, other cards cost the same)

Regards.

PS: I hate stax but I built one after playing with some players and be tired of not able to play magic :p

[Lemnear]

Thank you.

Normally I find combos that nobody uses in legacy tournments. For instance, using dovescape with multani's presence in a enchantress deck in main deck with no sideboard.

Normally enchantress has issues against control decks, so I use to cast multani's presence:
Whenever a spell you've cast is countered, draw a card.

Control decks will never counter this enchantment and if you think of it it's like having a "alternative" enchantress because control decks will give you free draws everytime they counter any enchantment bomb, so if you combine with dovescape and wheel of sun and moon (and also energy field) you will be recycling your deck while you put 1/1 blue birds and as you draw often than your opponent you will win and you will avoid restarting cards like nevinyrral's disk, engineered explosives, Reverent Silence and similar cards.

You must clearly talk about a different format than we in this forum

[Finn]

I often look for ways to tell people about my deck ideas. Right now I am thinking of a deck with Leovold, Emissary of Trest and Day's Undoing just because I am cool.
I think I will title the thread:

"[SCD]Anaba Ancestor"

What do you think?

[colo]

[...]
What do you think?


Wicked cool! Have you given Didgeridoo a thought? Between those two combo pieces, all we need is something that makes Leovold an actual Minotaur (or give him Changeling) while in your hand...

[Cire]

Wicked cool! Have you given Didgeridoo a thought? Between those two combo pieces, all we need is something that makes Leovold an actual Minotaur (or give him Changeling) while in your hand...

Always wanted to make a Didgeridoo + Artificial Evolution + Eldrazi deck work :rolleyes:

[H]

Always wanted to make a Didgeridoo + Artificial Evolution + Eldrazi deck work :rolleyes:

Conspiracy is obviously what you are missing, since you are already running X Urborgs anyway.