Baleful Strix

[klaus]

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=131385&stc=1&d=1337675348

I must admit, I'm pretty intrigued by that card. Stoneforge Mystic + Vial semi-break it for obvious reasons.
Strix is comparable to Snapcaster Mage on several levels: replaces itself, can serve as creature removal, with the exception that it can take down 3+ toughness creatures AND replace itself. Its -1 power is balanced out by the ability to conveniently fly over your opponents' forces, which is especially nice for Stoneforge shells - in fact Snappy would probably be even more broken as a 1/1 flyer.
I'm not implying that Strix will be format warping, but I'm sure it will see play in UWB shells. Below is a list off the top of my head for reference.

UWB Trix

4 Vial

4 Strix
4 SFM
4 Sprite
4 Dark Confidant
3 Snapcaster
3 Vendilion Clique

1 sofi
1 Jitte

4 STP
4 FOW
4 Brainstorm

4 Flooded Strand
2 Polluted Delta
2 Marsh Flats
4 Tundra
2 Underground Sea
1 Scrubland
1 Island
1 Plains
3 Wasteland

SB:
2 Disenchant
2 Extirpate
2 Surgical Extraction
3 Creature hate (Ghastly Demise / Perish / etc..)
2 Jace, the Mindsculptor
3 Spell Pierce
1 flex slot

Cards that didn't make it into the MD, but are feasible nevertheless: Daze, Vindicate, Bitterblossom, Serra Avenger, Grunt, Cavern of Souls, Mother of Runes, Chrome Mox (tempting with 19 creatures basically replacing themselves)
-------------------------

What are your thoughts on that Owl?
..Discuss!

[Kich867]

I don't really understand why SFM breaks this card, are you just implying that equipping a flying deathtouch creature is useful?

[Aggro_zombies]

I feel like "replaces itself" is what it takes to make this card not horrible, as opposed to "good enough to see play in Legacy." Tidehollow Strix already exists and is just bad; trading a point of power for a cantrip does not seem like enough of an upgrade to me. Why play a mediocre removal spell stapled onto a mediocre cantrip plus a mediocre body when you could run good cards? Like, say, Lingering Souls?

[Arsenal]

In UWB Stoneforge shells, there are much better options (Lingering Souls, Bitterblossom, hell I'd even want Squadron Hawk over this Strix guy) to run that serve the same purpose; card advantage/parity flyer that can carry equipment like a champ.

[klaus]

meh :frown: you no liky me ideaz :frown:


But seriously: Tidehollow Strix and Baleful Strix are miles apart. It's like comparing Silvergil Adept to a 2/1 Ogre - and Strix doesn't even require creatures in your hand.
Hawks require a huge setup, Lingering Souls are extremely mana hungry and none of the aforementioned can take out Goyfs, Knights, and friends out
I'm sure time will tell.

@Kich867:
Yes, I'm implying that because SFM transforms Strix from a defense guy into an evasive threat.

[Tao]

I think it could see play. Creating card advantage and pitching to FoW seems solid.

it also discards to Thirst for Knowledge, so there you go

[(nameless one)]

Aluren.dec anyone for this bird or is Coiling Oracle good enough?

[Aggro_zombies]

meh :frown: you no liky me ideaz :frown:


But seriously: Tidehollow Strix and Baleful Strix are miles apart.
Hawks require a huge setup, Lingering Souls are extremely mana hungry and none of the aforementioned can take out Goyfs, Knights, and friends out
I'm sure time will tell.
I'd rather take out Goyfs, Knights, and friends with extra StP effects. Strix isn't really a removal spell; if it were, its text would be:

Destroy a creature that's attacking you and which can be blocked by a flying blue/black creature. An opponent may counter this ability by casting Swords to Plowshares, Punishing Fire, Path to Exile, Lightning Bolt, or Forked Bolt; or by activating a Grim Lavamancer, Qasali Pridemage, or removing a charge counter from Umezawa's Jitte.

Seems not so hot to me.

[klaus]

I think it could see play. Creating card advantage and pitching to FoW seems solid.

it also discards to Thirst for Knowledge, so there you go

It's Tezz-colored too :wink:

Edit:
@ AggroZombies:
Snapcaster requires STP in the yard and is a 3CMC spell. I'm pretty sure you're underestimating Strix.

[Dark Ritual]

If they waste removal on strix you should be happy because you just 0 for 1'ed them due to the cantrip ability.

It is interesting in tezz builds to be sure though. I guess time will tell with this card whether it will see play.

[Aggro_zombies]

If they waste removal on strix you should be happy because you just 0 for 1'ed them due to the cantrip ability.

It is interesting in tezz builds to be sure though. I guess time will tell with this card whether it will see play.
I can see it being decent in a Tezzeret deck as well, but it doesn't excite me anywhere else. The card is pretty mediocre IMO.

[Arsenal]

meh :frown: you no liky me ideaz :frown:


But seriously: Tidehollow Strix and Baleful Strix are miles apart. It's like comparing Silvergil Adept to a 2/1 Ogre - and Strix doesn't even require creatures in your hand.
Hawks require a huge setup, Lingering Souls are extremely mana hungry and none of the aforementioned can take out Goyfs, Knights, and friends out
I'm sure time will tell.

@Kich867:
Yes, I'm implying that because SFM transforms Strix from a defense guy into an evasive threat.

RE: Hawk, what "huge setup" are you referring to? Resolving it? Once resolves, you go fill your hand with 3 more Hawks. From there, your options can be mundane and unexciting (cast the 3 Hawks) to AWESOME (Brainstorm/fetchland) shenanigans. Mind you, I'm not advocating any UWB Stoneforge shell running Hawk, but his practical applications seems better than what you're arguing Strix for.

[The Wolf]

This triggers the sword of the meek you discarded to thirst. Soooo much value

[lordofthepit]

I like this in Aluren and Tezzeret Stompy builds. Not sure it sees play anywhere else, but it's borderline if it does.

[kiblast]

This card seems way better than Wall of Blossoms in non Recruiter Aluren. Blocks and kills everything, but most important, blocks Delver. Also, higher blue count for Fow. And lastly, you can effectively go off with this+ Harpy (for obvious reasons you can't with Wall of Blossoms, unless you have a Man o War out). Aluren has become a little more consistent :smile:

[Vacrix]

When this was first spoiled the first things I thought of were:

Academy Ruins
Trade with your opponent's creatures, then return it EoT to trade with another.. and without losing your draw because you put Strix on top. Also, Academy Ruins is good outside of this synergy so its not a dead card when you don't have Strix.

Esperzoa
Use it as a draw engine when you don't have a creature to trade with. I'd say its one of the better Esperzoa bounce options atm.


On closer examination though.. this card is still a bit too weak for legacy. Its unlikely your opponent will waste a removal spell on it and when they don't its congruent to a Terminate with a cantrip (which I would play).. but I'd say it falls into the Vexing Devil category of giving your opponents too much choice over the cards you play. When you really need Strix to be a removal spell its probably just going to be a creature and die to a removal spell.

[rxavage]

If it had flash and hexproof I would be excited... and I have a Tezzaffintiy build. I think its an ok card for a few reasons previously mentioned but by no means is it the next delver. I liked the comparison with vexing devil, cause more oft than not its going to eat a bolt before you get a chance to block goyf, goose,delver etc. But imo vexing devil is better.

[klaus]

"In the test bunker".
So far Strixdoes just what I expect from it and I enjoy playing with it.
The build above could probably trade the Bobs for 2-3 Flickerwisps and 1-2 Grunts for a little more oomph [has plenty of C/A already].

Edit:

RE: Hawk, what "huge setup" are you referring to? Resolving it? Once resolves, you go fill your hand with 3 more Hawks. From there, your options can be mundane and unexciting (cast the 3 Hawks) to AWESOME (Brainstorm/fetchland) shenanigans. Mind you, I'm not advocating any UWB Stoneforge shell running Hawk, but his practical applications seems better than what you're arguing Strix for.

Hawks as shown by Hawk Cartel require 4 Ponders to find Brainstorms and Jaces for additional BS effects, this is card offers a completely different approach, namely AggroControl.

I'm curious to hear someone who has actually tested Strix in Blade shells.

[luckme10]

It has all the conditions to be run in affinity.
-Artifact creature in Tezzeret colors
-Cantrips without drawback
-flying and deathtouch
-Aggressive casting cost

What silvergill adept is for merfolk, this is for affinity. Although it has one less power, there's no drawback for cantripping and it contains flying and deathtouch. As someone who played merfolk, I can honestly say the value of replacing itself and providing a synergistic body shouldn't be frowned upon.

Decks like affinity need as much can tripping as possible because their card draws have a greater chance of drawlng dead. I doubt i'd ever feel unhappy to draw it. It'll probably replace vault skirge or something. It may also contribute to the return of a slower, lord heavy, affinity build.

Now onto really scary thought:
Consider the miminum amount of blue cards to run Force of Will. Now take a look at this list:
4 Baleful Strix
4 Master of Etherium
4 Thoughtcast
3 Tezzeret
4 Force of Will

I don't think I need to mention that an affinity build that can consistently pull off Force of Will adds considerable resilience to sideboard hate.

[alderon666]

Looks good in my Affinity deck. Adds removal for big stuff, counts towards Metalcraft/Plating and is flier to carry my equipament.

Costing double colored mana is kinda of a pain, but oh well.

[Greenpoe]

Take Bant, drop KoTR, Ooze and Hierarch. Add in Thoughtseize, Baleful Strix and Dark Confidant, and get a flying guys+equipment plan together rather than big ground creatures. Or maybe just take Deadguy and add some blue for Baleful Strix. I'm sure he can fit in a deck. Really though, he compares better to Spellstutter Sprite than Vexing Devil, its deathtouch & cantrip vs. conditional counter & flash. I think the former is far stronger, but both still suffer from a measly 1 power. If you can mitigate the pathetic power, you've got a pretty powerful card on your hands.

[klaus]

Take Bant, drop KoTR, Ooze and Hierarch. Add in Thoughtseize, Baleful Strix and Dark Confidant, and get a flying guys+equipment plan together rather than big ground creatures. Or maybe just take Deadguy and add some blue for Baleful Strix. I'm sure he can fit in a deck. Really though, he compares better to Spellstutter Sprite than Vexing Devil, its deathtouch & cantrip vs. conditional counter & flash. I think the former is far stronger, but both still suffer from a measly 1 power. If you can mitigate the pathetic power, you've got a pretty powerful card on your hands.

SFM fixes that issue neatly. :wink:

[Humphrey]

Looks strong with http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=3031&type=card

Add Cavern of Souls and this might be the broken tribal for legacy

[Finn]

I am with Klaus on this.

The combination of flying and deathtouch means that as control your opponent MUST spend a card on it before they can damage you with the attack phase. Also, +1 since it replaced itself. If that same flying creature can then deliver damage with equipment, pitch to FoW, recur with Academy Ruins, and be protected with Mother of Runes (all because of its many attributes) you have a very useful item. Not dynamite, but from a design standpoint it fills many roles in a deck. That is an attractive quality in a card that only costs 2 mana.

[Kuma]

Seems like it would be a pretty sweet card in limited. Too bad you can't draft Planechase.

[Pltnmngl]

I have to agree with luckme10. Vial Affinity is the only deck that can fully utilize all of it's potential. Besides SFM, two-drops have felt underwhelming to me in that deck, and I don't even like SFM.

[TsumiBand]

Anyone who saw value in Vampire Nighthawk should see the value in this guy. Evasive - holds equipment well. Deathtouch - trading pawns for rooks is usually a good play. Cantrip - that's the nuts. Any creature related strategy is getting into overextension or burning a removal spell on Baleful Strix, or just being retarded and swinging into it for great justice. Can't hurt to Vial it in before blockers either. Seems real good.

I dunno if Affinity is the deck to play it in, and I only say that because the 2-drop slot is so fucking awkward in that deck. I don't even own Ravagers anymore, most of their best tricks were with Disciple of the Vault and putting damage on the stack; DotV is a bad win con and damage on the stack got m10'd, and the deck is just able to play too many cheap evasive guys to give a shit about Ravager anyway. Get a d00d in play, equip Cranial, FASE. However, I suppose it's the best looking candidate for 2-drop in a long time, and that's even considering its shitty casting cost of UB (shitty in Affinity anyway).

[lyracian]

Between this and the new Ninja I wonder if something could be done to drag Fairy-Ninja's up from being a Tier 2 deck?

[Raggedjoe]

He might see play in Affinity, but if he does, it will be a replacement for Thoughtcast. It's a little harder to cast, but guarantees you a flying body. Both are +1 CA. Less randomness than involved with Thoughtcast.

[Jamaican Zombie Legend]

Just looking at the card, it's obvious this was designed primarily for EDH players who want something that can be played in the early game to ward off threats, yet doesn't feel like a "wasted" card and isn't a godawful topdeck. Mission accomplished, great design by Wizards-cru.

Not sure of the Legacy playability though. It seems to be full of value, but totally blank against a lot of decks, namely those that don't win via the combat step. That's a big strike against it. My uneducated guess is that it will either see niche play, or be relegated to the same spot Coiling Oracle is, namely "good, but not good enough".

[Antonius]

Should've been named Beautiful Strix, IMO.

CA is beautiful. always.

[Pich]

Looks good with Cabal Therapy, Aluren, Jitte and Sword of X and X, Vial, TFK, Sword of the Meek, Tezzeret.

Even on it's own, against creature decks it's 2 for 1. They plow it ? You cantripped and you got their plow. They don't plow it ? It creates a board-stall if they don't have Mother of Runes.

The only problem is that the cost is UB, which forces to play.. well, UB..

It's still not close to Scavenging Ooze, Dark Confidant and the like..

[Vacrix]

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=131488&d=1337918707
Granted its at 3cc and its in odd colors but you can bounce it with Esperzoa every turn to Cascade. Probably not playable.


The ninja seems pretty cool at Ninjitsu for 1U but I doubt it will see play. Its hard to say what you might want to copy to a good effect. Really fat creatures will likely leave you dead in the water before you can take advantage of this guy.. or it since they are legendary, this will just function as a kill spell at 1U to trade with a legend. Also.. its not like copying a Delver or a Goblin Guide is any good when you are paying 1U for it. I think it might have been playable if it were Ninjitsu for U.

[Tao]

So far I have not been involved with the Planechase stuff so I have no idea how the planar die works. One of the cards reads:

"Fractured Powerstone 2
Artifact
{T}: Add 1 to your mana pool.
{T}: Roll the planar die. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery."

Are these cards Legacy legal?

[Aggro_zombies]

So far I have not been involved with the Planechase stuff so I have no idea how the planar die works. One of the cards reads:

"Fractured Powerstone 2
Artifact
{T}: Add 1 to your mana pool.
{T}: Roll the planar die. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery."

Are these cards Legacy legal?
Yes, it's the same deal as the Commander cards.

[rufus]

The ninja seems pretty cool at Ninjitsu for 1U but I doubt it will see play. Its hard to say what you might want to copy to a good effect. Really fat creatures will likely leave you dead in the water before you can take advantage of this guy.. or it since they are legendary, this will just function as a kill spell at 1U to trade with a legend. Also.. its not like copying a Delver or a Goblin Guide is any good when you are paying 1U for it. I think it might have been playable if it were Ninjitsu for U.

I find myself thinking in terms of CiP abilities like Ravenous Rats, Snapcaster Mage, Stoneforge Mystic Coiling Oracle, Tidehollow Sculler, or Imperial Recruiter.

I wonder if it does OK when it copies pumpers like Muscle Sliver, Lord of Atlantis, or Master of Etherium.

[Barook]

The ninja seems pretty cool at Ninjitsu for 1U but I doubt it will see play.
Just wait until the print Mutant Turtle creatures for the obvious combo.

[Tao]

Yes, it's the same deal as the Commander cards.

That's odd. What if someone rolls the planar die against me?

[Aggro_zombies]

That's odd. What if someone rolls the planar die against me?
The same thing as when they tap their Command Tower.

[kiblast]

hey, is anyone still testing this?

I remember testing vs Klaus on MWS, he was playing one of the first drafts of the deck, and played nicely ( he won 2-0, I was playing some sort of UBGw control deck if I recall correctly).

I've been satisfied by this build.
By satisfied I mean that out of 100+ mws matches, I had roughly 20 matches versus decent players playing tier decks. And the deck proven to be good versus Maverick, Thresh and Reanimator, and can stand more than a chance vs Goblin (very draw- depending matchup).

I'll try to play this brew as soon as possible in a real event. Unfortunately real life is kind of hindering my ability to play paper magic lately. Give it a spin! It's fun,and full of Weathered Wayfarers shenanigans enabling perpetual Wasteland locks (with Jotun) and mini Ancestrals with Brainstorm.

Deck: Untitled Deck (http://deckstats.net/deck-1362282-4311e1ef9e78151de64d8e135b3dd278-en.html) http://deckstats.net/mana/m/w.gif http://deckstats.net/mana/m/u.gif http://deckstats.net/mana/m/b.gif

//Lands
1 Mutavault (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Mutavault)
2 Underground Sea (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Underground+Sea)
4 Flooded Strand (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Flooded+Strand)
1 Polluted Delta (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Polluted+Delta)
1 Marsh Flats (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Marsh+Flats)
1 Island (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Island)
1 Scrubland (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Scrubland)
3 Wasteland (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Wasteland)
1 Plains (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Plains)
3 Tundra (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Tundra)

//Creatures
2 Mirran Crusader (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Mirran+Crusader)
3 Baleful Strix (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Baleful+Strix)
2 Jotun Grunt (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Jotun+Grunt)
2 Stoneforge Mystic (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Stoneforge+Mystic)
4 Weathered Wayfarer (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Weathered+Wayfarer)
4 Spellstutter Sprite (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Spellstutter+Sprite)
1 Ninja of the Deep Hours (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Ninja+of+the+Deep+Hours)
1 Snapcaster Mage (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Snapcaster+Mage)

//Spells
4 Brainstorm (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Brainstorm)
4 Daze (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Daze)
4 Swords to Plowshares (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Swords+to+Plowshares)
1 Sword of Fire and Ice (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Sword+of+Fire+and+Ice)
1 Umezawa's Jitte (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Umezawa%27s+Jitte)
3 Spell Pierce (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Spell+Pierce)
2 Æther Vial (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=%C6ther+Vial)
4 Force of Will (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Force+of+Will)

//Sideboard
2 Flusterstorm (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Flusterstorm)
2 Surgical Extraction (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Surgical+Extraction)
2 Purify the Grave (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Purify+the+Grave)
3 Meddling Mage (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Meddling+Mage)
2 Disenchant (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Disenchant)
2 Perish (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Perish)
2 Engineered Plague (http://www.mtg-forum.de/db/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Engineered+Plague)

http://i.hbtronix.de/chart_pie.png Display deck statistics (http://deckstats.net/deck-1362282-4311e1ef9e78151de64d8e135b3dd278-en.html)