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[TheInfamousBearAssassin]

Yeah, I forgot the spell copiers target, so they'll fizzle

otoh if you're copying it to start with via Ascension, you can copy again.

[Esper3k]

I'd say that Abrupt Decay is probably the card most people are looking at right now and it's not a blue card...

[xeraseth]

All Blue cards have to live up to the AWESOME! keyword, ya know.

But it really is funny how so many Blue cards get pushed to at least a "near-playable" status in one or more formats while other colors often get total jank. For instance, look at Omniscience and then compare it to every big, splashy Enchantment of other colors. Blue's stuff always seems pushed a little harder.

Also I like Counterflux a lot. Just wish it was a harbinger of pure Red counters. That would give the color a shot in the arm.

Omniscience could be any color and it wouldn't matter. No one is getting up to 10 mana. It being FoW pitchable doesn't suddenly make Omniscience more amazing.

I will admit that Rakdos seems to be getting the shaft so far. Here is to hoping Rakdos himself is good.

[Barook]

I will admit that Rakdos seems to be getting the shaft so far. Here is to hoping Rakdos himself is good.

Unless he's Yawgwin on a stick, I seriously doubt that.

We don't get many playable demons. Griselbrand was a notable exception of the rule.

But I agree that Rakdos is in a pretty terrible state. Too much crap or overcosted cards or overcosted crap.
E.g. Desecration Demon should have really costed , maybe with slight stat reduction.

I can't even wait how craptastic the hybrid 1-drop and the Rakdos charm are going to be.

[Nihil Credo]

We have seen about a third of the set; Rakdos still has plenty of chances to show off its tournament cards. Though if it does not, it's gonna be a double failure since they (MaRo) have said that Rakdos is a guild popular with Spikes and designed with them in mind (which is why their mechanic is less about splashiness than efficiency).

[Koby]

MaRo is senile and wrote a sit-com. Trying to make sense of his ramblings is like predicting the future by casting chicken bones.

[Barook]

We have seen about a third of the set; Rakdos still has plenty of chances to show off its tournament cards. Though if it does not, it's gonna be a double failure since they (MaRo) have said that Rakdos is a guild popular with Spikes and designed with them in mind (which is why their mechanic is less about splashiness than efficiency).

Rakdos is a Spike guild? It already sucked the first time around and Spikes don't appreciate bad, overcosted crap. This doesn't make sense. Wizards has unlearnt how to make efficient, powerful creatures (with a playable drawback) in that color combination, one of the earlier trademarks of said colors.

Price question: What's the last, efficient beater in B/R below 4cc casting cost that isn't a 1cc 2 power beater?

The only, truely efficient card so far is Dreadbore.

[Koby]

Price question: What's the last, efficient beater in B/R below 4cc casting cost that isn't a 1cc 2 power beater?

Vexing Devil
Death's Shadow
Avatar of Discord
Demigod of Revenge
Jagged Poppet - actually saw play in B/R Vintage Moon deck

[FieryBalrog]

And once again Wizards intrigues me for giving black and red only shitty junk cards while giving blue most of the decent cards....

The stuff they've given Rakdos is part of a long, proud tradition of RB mediocrity, you know. Can't just go around flouting tradition.

[Barook]

Vexing Devil

I'll give you this.

Death's Shadow
Avatar of Discord

Don't see play.

Demigod of Revenge

5cc

Jagged Poppet - actually saw play in B/R Vintage Moon deck

That sounds kinda nifty.

[Malchar]

Rakdos is a Spike guild? It already sucked the first time around and Spikes don't appreciate bad, overcosted crap. This doesn't make sense. Wizards has unlearnt how to make efficient, powerful creatures (with a playable drawback) in that color combination, one of the earlier trademarks of said colors.

Who cares about creatures? Rakdos got infernal tutor the first time around. It's the only playable card with a guild keyword besides shattering spree and anything with dredge. In my book, this makes it the second best guild.

[Gheizen64]

Omniscience could be any color and it wouldn't matter. No one is getting up to 10 mana. It being FoW pitchable doesn't suddenly make Omniscience more amazing.

I will admit that Rakdos seems to be getting the shaft so far. Here is to hoping Rakdos himself is good.

Except it does, as Omniscience has the amazing keyword.

[xeraseth]

Except it does, as Omniscience has the amazing keyword.

It does not change how playable Show and Tell is.

[Koby]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Amazing is pretty good for the future of Red Elemental Blast. Just sayin' - stock up on your REBs.

[Tammit67]

Who cares about creatures? Rakdos got infernal tutor the first time around. It's the only playable card with a guild keyword besides shattering spree and anything with dredge. In my book, this makes it the second best guild.

Transmute led the way for Heartbeat combo in standard, don't forget that!

[Lord Seth]

Omniscience could be any color and it wouldn't matter. No one is getting up to 10 mana. It being FoW pitchable doesn't suddenly make Omniscience more amazing.

It kind of does. It really only gets played in Show and Tell decks anyway, so it being pitchable does make it better. Not significantly better, but still better.

Price question: What's the last, efficient beater in B/R below 4cc casting cost that isn't a 1cc 2 power beater?

How strict are we talking? Does it have to work in Legacy? Or is Modern and/or Standard okay?

I'll give you this.

I don't think I would. Honestly, it may be called a creature, and it may have a power and toughness, but Vexing Devil at its heart is a sorcery. It's a Lava Spike that deals 1 more damage but in return has the disadvantage of possibly becoming a 4/3 creature instead, as your opponent (unless they're stupid) will only pick that if it's to their advantage, e.g. they have a great blocker, they have removal, etc. You don't play Vexing Devil to put a beater into play, you play it because you want to hit your opponent for 4 direct damage for only one mana.

[Greenpoe]

We don't get many playable demons. Griselbrand was a notable exception of the rule.

Yes we do - Abyssal Persecutor, Tombstalker and Griselbrand. Before that, Grinning Demon was playable, and I think that old Train Wreck deck played Demonic Hordes. Hellcarver Demon can make a semi decent combo deck. Demonic Taskmasker is probably decent in some Eva Green style deck. Some Omniscicence builds are playing Rune-scarred Demon and some Nic Fit builds have played Bloodgift Demon.

[KevinTrudeau]

The new "fixed" Mind's Desire (I suppose calling it the new Genesis Wave derivative could be more apt) doesn't seem up to snuff in existing storm variants at first glance.

[menace13]

Yes we do - Abyssal Persecutor, Tombstalker and Griselbrand. Before that, Grinning Demon was playable, and I think that old Train Wreck deck played Demonic Hordes. Hellcarver Demon can make a semi decent combo deck. Demonic Taskmasker is probably decent in some Eva Green style deck. Some Omniscicence builds are playing Rune-scarred Demon and some Nic Fit builds have played Bloodgift Demon.

So, basically Tombstalker and Griselbrand?

[Koby]

So, basically Tombstalker and Griselbrand?

So basically Griselbrand? How often has Tombstalker been an important creature in the last 12 months? How many other black creatures have been important in the last 12 months?