[SCD][AVR]Killing Wave

[Darkenslight]

In amongst all the comedy gold coming out of the spoiler season, there's an unusual anti-aggro card on the list. This card's name is Killing Wave.

For reference:

Killing Wave :x::b:
Sorcery
For each creature, its controller sacrifices it unless he or she pays X life.

This card seems to have applications in any black control deck, as an anti-aggro card. However, the largest weakness oft he card is that it utilises the "punisher" mechanic, thus giving your opponent(s) a choice. I think that the best metagame for it would be a Zoo/Fish(Non-Merfolk)-heavy metagame, although it also has use against Empty the Warrens as a foil.

MY best guess is that Killing Wave is best used as a 2-of or 3-of in the sideboard: however, it's possible with meta shifts that it may (rarely) be maindeckable.

Any other thoughts are, as always, appreciated.

[Tammit67]

If your thought is to punish empty the warrens, zoo, or merfolk, there are better cards.

The weakness is too great for it to be worthwhile in any 75, particularly in this meta

[TheInfamousBearAssassin]

At three-four you hit much better options, and at two mana, well, who really gives a fuck. They'll lose three life and continue killing you.

[Sims]

At three-four you hit much better options, and at two mana, well, who really gives a fuck. They'll lose three life and continue killing you.

This. This card reminds me very much of breaking point or browbeat. It will be a bad burn spell when you need a wrath, or it'll be an over-priced wrath when you need it to be a burn spell.

[dahcmai]

Me no likey this one. Anything that allows the opponent to choose better be frigging amazing and this one is not. Play a few games with a proxy and it shows how lousy it is real quick.

[Grollub]

At three-four you hit much better options, and at two mana, well, who really gives a fuck. They'll lose three life and continue killing you.

Very much this, at all mana costs there's better alternatives. Given Killing Wave's lack of flexibility (there's none, as it'll always be subpar) this card will never be used in competetive play.

Sexy art tho.

[Darkenslight]

Fair enough. That's part of why I referred to it as "unusual": because it might have had a place, unlikely as it is.

I figured that its largest problem was that it was a "punisher" card, and giving your opponents a choice about what to do with their stuff is bad.

[Awaclus]

It could be good, if they had to sacrifice all creatures or pay life for all creatures. Now they can just pay life if X is small and still get away with some creatures on the board if X is big.

[DragoFireheart]

If I paid a total of 4 mana into this, why not just play Damnation?

This is a punisher card that, unlike Vexing Devil, is terrible and won't ever see serious play.

[TsumiBand]

Given all the indestrucible hexproof whatever-proof weenies that are roaming the streets right now, I'd honestly rather play Mutilate.

[DrJones]

If I paid a total of 4 mana into this, why not just play DamnationDamnation destroys your creatures, this one is designed to be played with at least one big creature on your side to survive the apocalypse. This card is also at its best when X is set to either 2, 3, and 4. It's worse than damnation at that cost, but it can also be played for less if you get stormed with goblins in your first turn, where Damnation would be too slow.

I concede it's not an easy card to use, but I don't think it's bad. Pox wasn't easy to play either and it was still strong enough to spawn its own deck. There are far worse sweepers in black.

I would try it in legacy, but counters are too cheap in this format for it to be reliable. I'd rather play Sudden Spoiling which is uncounterable, one-sided, and backbreaking against many of these crazy monsters in the meta.

[DragoFireheart]

Damnation destroys your creatures, this one is designed to be played with at least one big creature on your side to survive the apocalypse. This card is also at its best when X is set to either 2, 3, and 4. It's worse than damnation at that cost, but it can also be played for less if you get stormed with goblins in your first turn, where Damnation would be too slow.

- Or they just pay enough life and kill you anyways. Especially if it's goblins.

[DrJones]

- Or they just pay enough life and kill you anyways. Especially if it's goblins.You already have blockers when you cast this card. A storm player can't keep 10 goblins if you cast this with X=2. It will fall back to a manageable (3-4) level. This is more likely to happen in modern where storm doesn't have Tendrils of Agony.

This isn't a card to play in a losing position without any creature on board. This card is to be played in a slightly unbalanced board. It isn't marvelous and neither easy to use, but it isn't useless.

[DragoFireheart]

You already have blockers when you cast this card.

And what if I don't? Then I die anyways? *If I can't use this to save my ass in a losing position, then what's the point?

(*Rhetorical question)

[LOurs]

This card is absolutly terrible for all good reasons mentioned earlier.
The reason this card exists is only to deal with token strategies at best, and pretty sure nobody look in the direction of legacy : it is a good limited card, an average good standard card, and probably an EDH playable card. That's all, at the moment, no other format would want it over already existing weapons, at least not me.

[DrJones]

And what if I don't? Then I die anyways? *If I can't use this to save my ass in a losing position, then what's the point?

(*Rhetorical question)If you want a card to use in that scenario, you don't play this card. This card doesn't fit that role. The same way you don't play Cataclysm to get rid of Progenitus. That doesn't make Cataclysm a bad card, it just means you're playing it wrong.

[DragoFireheart]

If you want a card to use in that scenario, you don't play this card. This card doesn't fit that role. The same way you don't play Cataclysm to get rid of Progenitus. That doesn't make Cataclysm a bad card, it just means you're playing it wrong.

I think this card doesn't fit any role other than being in the rare dollar binder.

[TsumiBand]

Don't forget about TYPE FOUR everybody. Infinite mana breaks this card in HALF

[DragoFireheart]

Don't forget about TYPE FOUR everybody. Infinite mana breaks this card in HALF

Oh wait, I was wrong.

The rare dollar binder and in a type four deck.

[Nihil Credo]

Don't forget about TYPE FOUR everybody. Infinite mana breaks this card in HALF
You mean it becomes Damnation?

[DrJones]

You mean it becomes Damnation?It becomes better than damnation if you have infinite life.

[joemauer]

It becomes better than damnation if you have infinite life.

Your opponent's creatures usually aren't a problem when you have infinite life.

[DragoFireheart]

Your opponent's creatures usually aren't a problem when you have infinite life.

A lot of things aren't a problem when you have infinite life.