Ground Seal

[Cavius The Great]

Does Ground Seal work against Ichorid, or is it just a randomly, overall, bad card against them? I was thinking of running Ground Seal in one of my decks but I'm not sure if it's actually effective agianst Ichorid. Any help in this matter will be appreciated. Thanx. :smile:

[Jak]

Does Ichorid target? That is about it if it does.

[Jaynel]

Ground Seal doesn't stop the card Ichorid, as it doesn't target. It does stop Dread Return though.

[KillemallCFH]

Does Ground Seal work against Ichorid, or is it just a randomly, overall, bad card against them? I was thinking of running Ground Seal in one of my decks but I'm not sure if it's actually effective agianst Ichorid. Any help in this matter will be appreciated. Thanx. :smile:Are you talking about the card or the deck? The card itself doesn't target so it does nothing against them. If you're talking about the deck, it stops... Dread Return. That's about it. So no, Ground Seal is not very effective vs Ichorid (the deck or the card).

[Cavius The Great]

Are you talking about the card or the deck? The card itself doesn't target so it does nothing against them. If you're talking about the deck, it stops... Dread Return. That's about it. So no, Ground Seal is not very effective vs Ichorid (the deck or the card).

I'm talking about the actual deck. But if it stops Dread Return wouldn't that hinder them slightly? Ground Seal is also not bad against Cephalid Breakfast since Sutured Ghoul targets. And we all know it shuts down Loam, but that's not reason enough to warrant a SB slot IMO. So I'm not sure if I should run it or not. What do you guys think?

[Jaynel]

I'm talking about the actual deck. But if it stops Dread Return wouldn't that hinder them slightly? Ground Seal is also not bad against Cephalid Breakfast since Sutured Ghoul targets. And we all know it shuts down Loam, but that's not reason enough to warrant a SB slot IMO. So I'm not sure if I should run it or not. What do you guys think?

Sutured Ghoul doesn't target, but again, Dread Return does.

And for the record, I think Extirpate does the job for cheaper against both decks (on Bridge from Below against Ichorid, on Tarmogoyf/Sutured Ghoul against Breakfast).

[SpatulaOfTheAges]

And is also a totally different color.

Ground Seal shuts off Dread Return, which means it shuts off haste. If you can exploit this, you should consider Ground Seal. If you can't, use something else.

[Elficidium]

Sutured Ghoul doesn't target, but again, Dread Return does.

And for the record, I think Extirpate does the job for cheaper against both decks (on Bridge from Below against Ichorid, on Tarmogoyf/Sutured Ghoul against Breakfast).
I think most Ichorid players would rather see you extirpate Bridge than Ichorid. unless you play no creatures whatsoever, extirpating Ichorid is the far better play, since it stops his endless supply of beaters and limits him to only Narcomoebas for token generating.
Anyway, Ground Seals warrants a SB slot in a loam-heavy meta, and doesn't do much against Ichorid.

[Dilettante]

If you are running something like Enchantress and Ground Seal does more for you, fine... but as a general hate card, if you are looking to shut down Ichorid, pretty much the same, and more can be achieved by dropping down a Tormod's Crypt. It... stops Dread Return just as much, effectively countering it when you crack it upon the Dread Return hitting the stack with a named target. Granted, there are a *few* properties that you are better off with Ground Seal, that being Tormod's is more vulnerable to Stifle, Shattering Spree, and Chalice of the Void...

[Cavius The Great]

If you are running something like Enchantress and Ground Seal does more for you, fine... but as a general hate card, if you are looking to shut down Ichorid, pretty much the same, and more can be achieved by dropping down a Tormod's Crypt. It... stops Dread Return just as much, effectively countering it when you crack it upon the Dread Return hitting the stack with a named target. Granted, there are a *few* properties that you are better off with Ground Seal, that being Tormod's is more vulnerable to Stifle, Shattering Spree, and Chalice of the Void...

I was actually looking for something artifact or green in addition to Tormod's Crypt. Possibly Scrabbling Claw and Phyrexian Furnace but I'm not sure if either of those cards are better than Ground Seal. What do you think?

[quicksilver]

Tormod's crypt is still an excellent choice.

[Nihil Credo]

Loaming Shaman? After 4 Crypts, that is.

[Maveric78f]

I think most Ichorid players would rather see you extirpate Bridge than Ichorid. unless you play no creatures whatsoever, extirpating Ichorid is the far better play, since it stops his endless supply of beaters and limits him to only Narcomoebas for token generating.
Anyway, Ground Seals warrants a SB slot in a loam-heavy meta, and doesn't do much against Ichorid.

It depends on the state of the game. Sometimes, the right call is bridge, sometimes ichorid, sometimes the only dredger into the yard, sometimes dread returns...

[Cavius The Great]

Loaming Shaman? After 4 Crypts, that is.

It's just that, Ground Seal is good against so many "other" decks, such as Loam variants, Reanimator and the occasional MossNought. I'm not sure if Loaming Shaman would be any better...

[KillemallCFH]

It's just that, Ground Seal is good against so many "other" decks, such as Loam variants, Reanimator and the occasional MossNought. I'm not sure if Loaming Shaman would be any better...Besides the one extra mana (which admittedly can make a difference), Loaming Shaman is almost as effective against those decks, while being much better against Ichorid as well as providing a 3/2 body with which to beat. I would personally use the Shaman.

[Cavius The Great]

Besides the one extra mana (which admittedly can make a difference), Loaming Shaman is almost as effective against those decks, while being much better against Ichorid as well as providing a 3/2 body with which to beat. I would personally use the Shaman.

We're also forgetting that Ground Seal cantrips which is almost as significant as the one less mana cost. But I do agree that Shaman definitely is a solid option and an efficient beater to boot. The only real issue I have, is it sitting in your hand, while you're waiting to play it at the moment it has the most strategical impact. Ground Seal I can just play and forget while the Shaman usually has to wait for the right moment to release his wrath, so to speak.

[Lego]

The answer is, of course, Elephant Grass.