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Magic: the Gathering |OT8| Eldritch Moon - It's only a paper (and digital) moon

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Serum is an actual English word. It's not made up. Thought and Seize are also English words. The creative team likes to combine different words to name cards. Mirrodin isn't some high horse.

Technically it's latin and serums aren't hallucinogenics, so in the context of serum visions you'll always have to establish why people get a trip from bodily fluids. Mirrodin did that, nothing else, if the creative team would have made a magic mushroom monster, or lab maniac killed hypno toad, then Serum Visions would probably have fitted on Innistrad.

Not sure you caught my edit in time but I changed it to word composition. The point being, the word combination thought seize can be interpreted quite liberally since it means next to nothing and or everything.

Technically speaking "serum" refers to the blood stuff and yeah, on Mirrodin its the blood serum of Blinkmoths. But things like "truth serum" have created a broader sort of "concoction" connotation.

I honestly can't think of anything other than truth serum, point taken though.
 

OnPoint

Member
se·rum
ˈsirəm/
noun
an amber-colored, protein-rich liquid that separates out when blood coagulates.

Anyway...

Cards to reprint that might not break standard:

Damnation
Crucible of Worlds
LotV
Zen fetches
Serum Visions

Cards that might break standard but still need reprints or wouldn't fit flavor:
Goyf
Auriok champion
Horizon Canopy
Inquisition of Koz
Goryo's veng
 

HK-47

Oh, bitch bitch bitch.
I'm sure you're joking, but that's not really in black's color pie anymore. Black would just Murder or exile the creature permanently, not temporarily.

No I'm serious. That card is way too expensive and a staple in Pauper, my favorite format.
 

Daedardus

Member
Omniscience perhaps? Don't think it will ever break Standard, but it's still a $15 card. Not in need of reprint as much as other cards though.

I also don't know if Scapeshift would fit the flavor, but if landfall is kept out of reach, it won't break much.
 

HK-47

Oh, bitch bitch bitch.
You guys have already put more thought into reprints than Wizards ever will now that core sets are gone. Overpriced Masters set forever!
 
Serum visions is plane specific so it'd have to be a functional reprint, which impacts modern

If they're willing to turnInquisition of Kozilek from eldrazi mind destruction to a cultist in a funny hit they can definitely use the multiple meanings of "serum."

Stone Rain

God, please no.

Most of this list would be fine, and several have even been printed/reprinted as recently as M12.

[*]Wild Nacatl (though this is another plane-specific one)

It's not technically established that Nacatl isn't used for jaguar-people on other planes, but it's got the three-color aspect too.

[*]Maelstrom Pulse (similar naming issue to Serum Visions)

With this I think they'd sooner just do the simplest version (destroy target permanent) or one with a different simple rider (its controller loses 2 life or whatever.)

[*]Crop Rotation (might not want this one in modern)

Yeah, no for Modern please.

I'm sure you're joking, but that's not really in black's color pie anymore. Black would just Murder or exile the creature permanently, not temporarily.

It's also one of those cards from the early templating era where you can only write the effect in a nasty garbage way. If they wanted to do a spell like this in black they'd do a new one that works like O-Ring.
 

Firemind

Member
Not sure you caught my edit in time but I changed it to word composition. The point being, the word combination thought seize can be interpreted quite liberally since it means next to nothing and or everything.
Visions aren't real. Serum Visions might as well be gibberish to me. At least Ancestral Visions sounds cool.
 
Damnation
Crucible of Worlds
LotV
Zen fetches
Serum Visions

Zen fetches will 100% happen eventually even though they'll probably be obnoxious again when they do. Crucible is a fine effect usually but a) not with fetches :p and b) fairly world-specific again (not just to Mirrodin, but it's hard to fit it in most planes.) I'm not sure I really believe LotV is fully safe, given that if it were a $50 staple in all the best decks it would still be pretty miserable -- mythics are harder in general to do this with than rares.

Damnation probably isn't environment-ruining but I still don't think they'll do it.
 

y2dvd

Member
Yeah they're done with reprints in Standard sets, I imagine. The popularity of Eternal Masters + Modern Masters has shown that they can reprint these extremely expensive cards in one-off sets that have new art, etc. but won't bring down the price of the original so they can maintain their "OOH AHH ITS EXPENSIVE" status.

To be fair, prices of these reprints do drop significantly. The master sets is the best win for WotC all around.

Look at what happens when they reprint a modern staple in standard - Thoughtseize and Fetchlands. Yeah Yeah, they weren't broken until so and so came along. Nah they were annoying from the start and then got a lot worse with the right support.

R&D has to build around those reprints also which I'm sure they rather not have to do.

Then WotC has to think about the secondary market. It's a symbiotic relationship. Stores makes most of their profits on singles. You don't want them to get it too hard with aggressive reprints.

The master sets do a good job of bringing those staples down a bit for awhile, circulating more copies of a card, and printing the right amount to where prices don't crash for everyone.

Look, I want enemy fetches for dirt cheap, but I think WotC have learned their lessons and I get why we may never see them or Snapcaster or Lillians reprinted in standards again.
 

HK-47

Oh, bitch bitch bitch.
To be fair, prices of these reprints do drop significantly. The master sets is the best win for WotC all around.

Look at what happens when they reprint a modern staple in standard - Thoughtseize and Fetchlands. Yeah Yeah, they weren't broken until so and so came along. Nah they were annoying from the start and then got a lot worse with the right support.

R&D has to build around those reprints also which I'm sure they rather not have to do.

Then WotC has to think about the secondary market. It's a symbiotic relationship. Stores makes most of their profits on singles. You don't want them to get it too hard with aggressive reprints.

The master sets do a good job of bringing those staples down a bit for awhile, circulating more copies of a card, and printing the right amount to where prices don't crash for everyone.

Look, I want enemy fetches for dirt cheap, but I think WotC have learned their lessons and I get why we may never see them or Snapcaster or Lillians reprinted in standards again.

Except they dont because many of the critical cards are mythics?
 

Daedardus

Member
Then WotC has to think about the secondary market. It's a symbiotic relationship. Stores makes most of their profits on singles. You don't want them to get it too hard with aggressive reprints.

The master sets do a good job of bringing those staples down a bit for awhile, circulating more copies of a card, and printing the right amount to where prices don't crash for everyone.

Look, I want enemy fetches for dirt cheap, but I think WotC have learned their lessons and I get why we may never see them or Snapcaster or Lillians reprinted in standards again.

Stores won't go bankrupt immediately if some of the key cards drop by a bit. The selling price set is the one through supply and demand, and stores won't set prices that make them lose money on every sale. But if stores get access to lots of cheap supply, they can still profit from selling the cards at a lower price. Like how the Khans fetches kept all prices down in the set and they still made money because the fetches sold like hotcakes. Enemy fetches are almost a given to return to standard, the question is just when.

And don't forget that there was a time where the average price of a staple was a lot lower. People went crazy because Baneslayer hit $50 and JTMS became one of the first recent cards to hit $80. Nowadays, a Modern staple starts at $20, many of them go up to $40 and we have some key cards hitting $60 and up. Even with two reprints Tarmogoyf is still $150 after two reprints.

A Modern Jund deck literally costs $2000. Cheaper fetches, cheaper Goyf and cheaper LoTV would bring that price down to a more acceptable range, but still you'd have to explain to an outsider why that tiny stack of cardboard is worth more than $1000.
 

Jhriad

Member
EDIT: Note that they actually have increased the number of reprints of non-powerful cards in non-core sets, though.

Very few people actually give a crap about random bulk or fringe EDH cards being reprinted though.

Rather than argue the point directly again, I want to take this in a different direction: what are some "good" cards that would actually be good, worthwhile reprints in Standard? They have to be good enough that people are happy to see them, but significantly below the level of annoyance that went along with both Thoughtseize and Mutavault reprints. If I had to think of a recent example, I'd say probably Urborg TOY in M15?

Serum Visions
Inquisition of Kozilek
Mishra's Bauble (fits better in a set like Conspiracy obviously since the name is too specific for the average set)
Spell Snare
A number of the Modern Merfolk creatures
Spell Pierce
a dozen different lands/land cycles.

Just a few I could think of off the top of my head.

Technically it's latin and serums aren't hallucinogenics, so in the context of serum visions you'll always have to establish why people get a trip from bodily fluids.

If only we were on a plane with a bunch of blood sucking creatures and warm blooded bodies being warped by some otherworldly power. No story explanation needed. It could have been explained with a decent piece of art and some flavor text.

Seriously though, this argument is silly given that the English word has long since taken on additional meaning and it's vague enough to be slotted into a set without requiring some story explanation other than a decent piece of art. Getting things that mention specific places or individuals reprinted is hard enough, don't get stuck on something with relatively vague terminology like 'Serum' which should have some flexibility to it. If we want a number of much needed reprints outside of the rare supplemental product we have to signal to WotC that we're okay with them being flexible on things like this.
 

aidan

Hugo Award Winning Author and Editor
Rather than argue the point directly again, I want to take this in a different direction: what are some "good" cards that would actually be good, worthwhile reprints in Standard? They have to be good enough that people are happy to see them, but significantly below the level of annoyance that went along with both Thoughtseize and Mutavault reprints. If I had to think of a recent example, I'd say probably Urborg TOY in M15?

Like, basically, rather than evaluate this in a vacuum, I want to think about specific card options. Liliana was clearly not suitable in the environment they tried her in. Cavern of Souls would be miserable one way or another in an environment where tribal green/white is oppressive and blue is bad. What are some other candidates?

In addition to all the cards listed by others, Cavern of Souls being left out of EDM seems especially telling when WotC also printed an effect (exiling spells on the stack) that directly impedes what makes CoS powerful.
 
I've been suggesting this for a while, so I'm glad they're going for it.
continuumg asked: So red is freezing lands now?

We’re experimenting with it as land destruction lite.

==

cosmotable asked: "danfelder asked: A friend is arguing that tapping lands is in red's color pie, because it's weaker land destruction. This seems crazy to me. Can you confirm if he's right or wrong?He is wrong. That is not in Red’s part of the color pie. The ability is in blue.October 19, 2014" Yet, Stensia Innkeeper? Perhaps the question stirred some debate at wizards?

It is something new we’re trying in Red to be land destruction lite, so your friend is correct (except that it’s a new thing we’re trying and not previously in Red’s color pie).

en_E33ZFxyB00.png
 

OnPoint

Member
I decided to look through this box of Eventide we opened forever ago but never bothered sorting out. I was surprised to find a UR and UG land from the set just chilling in there. Little treasures sometimes you don't even know you have. Magic's fun like that sometimes.
 
Remember when we were disappointed when we only got Felidar Sovereign and Dragonmaster Outcast from BFZ? Turns out they were spoiling us.
 

Yeef

Member
Did Magic for PS4 get officially canned? Do any of you know? Last I heard it was just delayed but this wait is ridiculous.
My guess is that it'll come eventually. Most likely, they were too busy putting out the fires to actually focus on a port, but I can't imagine that they'd decline to bring it to PS4 altogether. Now that the fires are (mostly) out, they may actually get around to it.
 
My guess is that it'll come eventually. Most likely, they were too busy putting out the fires to actually focus on a port, but I can't imagine that they'd decline to bring it to PS4 altogether. Now that the fires are (mostly) out, they may actually get around to it.

That's good news, so I really hope that it works out that way. I've been really itching to play Magic on the comfy couch on my big screen. The kids would like it too.
It's that or spend money and build a little MTGO box to hook up to the HDMI port and do it that way.

I really need to make the switch to digital because I'm just so rarely playing paper Magic these days.

Actually I'd like to trade paper into digital if I found a good outlet to do so.
 
Just noticed the little lamb in this art.
en_MQeifgopcQ.png


I was wondering by the delirium version of the guy is 4/2 and not 3/2, but obviously it's the lamb that turns into a horror. >_>

Also, hermit crab using an entire ship as its shell.
en_lHfoT4gtAh.png
 
I can confirm that Spell Queller is the nut.

clone8qswd.png


Honestly I think Bant Coco is pretty unfair at this point. This is kinda crazy. My opponents are casting burn into read the bones into nahiri and it just feels like they can't do anything the whole game.
 
Just noticed the little lamb in this art.
en_MQeifgopcQ.png


I was wondering by the delirium version of the guy is 4/2 and not 3/2, but obviously it's the lamb that turns into a horror. >_>
At first I thought your opponent gained an Eldrazi Horror token. I think that would have been a brilliant flavor and mechanic blend for a sentry, make it like a badass 1-drop with that drawback.

Also, hermit crab using an entire ship as its shell.
en_lHfoT4gtAh.png
Yup. I love the art in this block.
 

Ashodin

Member
[QUOTE="God's Beard!";209529802]I can confirm that Spell Queller is the nut.

clone8qswd.png


Honestly I think Bant Coco is pretty unfair at this point. This is kinda crazy. My opponents are casting burn into read the bones into nahiri and it just feels like they can't do anything the whole game.[/QUOTE]

Wouldn't be surprised to see CoCo gone early at release
 

HK-47

Oh, bitch bitch bitch.
I want to put Desperate Sentry in my Pauper Cube. Also thinking about Fogwalker as well as Displace and Enlightened Maniac since UW has a flicker/bounce theme. I just dont know if I have the room for either.
 
Why side out Tracker? That gives the deck extra gas that makes it crazy.

There's already 7 looters and Duskwatch. With the new cards all the creatures in the deck function like spells and Tracker is slow card advantage in a deck not running ramp or 26+ lands. That said, it's a must deal with threat out of the board against slower decks.
 
Why second rate Remand over a suite of Dromoka's Commands?

Bounces your own creatures for valuable etb effects and protection while also tempoing out wraths and ramp creatures and whatever else your opponent is doing. Dromoka's Command is a great mirror and burn-based wrath card so I have some in the board.
 

duxstar

Member
[QUOTE="God's Beard!";209532148]Bounces your own creatures for valuable etb effects and protection while also tempoing out wraths and ramp creatures and whatever else your opponent is doing. Dromoka's Command is a great mirror and burn-based wrath card so I have some in the board.[/QUOTE]

How is thalia in the deck and why herons grace champion over something like a 1 of tamiyo? Is wharf infiltrator better than something like selfless soul ?
 

Supast4r

Junior Member
So it could be in standard and make for a great zombie deck base with some of the new interesting zombie cards in EMN.
Gravecrawler is wayyyyyyy to good for standard. The last time that card was legal the mere shell of 4 gravecrawler/Geralfs messenger was in ever midrange deck because it was so busted for awhile in standard. Thank god it's not in standard.
 
How is thalia in the deck and why herons grace champion over something like a 1 of tamiyo? Is wharf infiltrator better than something like selfless soul ?

Thalia is solid, not insane. Obviously she wins all the mirrors with 3 power first strike. She's absolutely savage against evolving wilds and decks trying to block their way into the late game.

Wharf Infiltrator was a card I identified as something I wanted to play early on and to be honest it's way overperformed compared to even my high expectations. Turning extra legends into uncounterable 3/2s that trade well or just having that mana sink when you're mana/color screwed is powerful. Not to mention the nearly unblockable damage and looting into more companies.

Selfless Soul isn't really something I'm interested in outside a dedicated spirits deck. Honestly most of the played removal is -/- effects or straight exile and you have to have 3+ mana against an opponent's planar outburst to get enough value out of the effect. It's not like you're using it to protect a 6 drop or anything. Plus, it dies to Lili's + without generating much value like Wharf does.

As for Heron's grace, it's mostly for blowing out races and the mirror. Has a similar effect on creature matchups that Avacyn does at a lower cost. Could be better as a 2nd Ojutai's Command. Tamiyo I don't really think is playable.
 
Who wants to get a friendly wager going on this?

I will avatar bet a fucking thopter that Contraptions are NOT in Kaladesh.

I am firmly in Camp No Contraptions. What's the friendly bet? :)

I think the Spooky Moon spoilers came through, in the end- lots of neat callback cards not to just Innistrad, but to Magic, in general. Red Donate still has my eye most of all, but not interested in pre-ordering anything. Tempted grab a box, though, just for fun. TBD.
 
I was surprised that Wharf infiltrator was pre-ordering for $1 on tcgplayer. I might pick up my plays set so I don't miss out like I did with tireless tracker.
 

Firemind

Member
Gravecrawler is wayyyyyyy to good for standard. The last time that card was legal the mere shell of 4 gravecrawler/Geralfs messenger was in ever midrange deck because it was so busted for awhile in standard. Thank god it's not in standard.
Huh? In what world were zombies busted? Sounds like a mythical world.
 

Zocano

Member
Gravecrawler is wayyyyyyy to good for standard. The last time that card was legal the mere shell of 4 gravecrawler/Geralfs messenger was in ever midrange deck because it was so busted for awhile in standard. Thank god it's not in standard.

Wat. This was the same time as Huntmaster, Garruk Primal Hunter, and Thragtusk. Zombies was good then but not "busted" or format warping as those three that dictated the standard landscape for a solid 2 years.

Then Aetherling, Sphinx, and Jace happened and we had mind numbingly boring control meta for 2 years.
 

Firemind

Member
Why the fuck are Rakdos Cackler, Stromkirk Noble, Gore-House Chainwalker and Chandra's Phoenix leaving the Vintage cube? The only actual card that replaces them is Falkenrath Gorger.

And then they put Leyline of Sanctity, Timely Reinforcements, Voice of Resurgence in. :lol
 

Firemind

Member
it's vintage cube

i powered out ugin on t3 and i still lost because i lost the coinflip of mana crypt 5 times in a row

edit: dem bad feels

iqP70mY.png
 

OnPoint

Member
Gravecrawler is wayyyyyyy to good for standard. The last time that card was legal the mere shell of 4 gravecrawler/Geralfs messenger was in ever midrange deck because it was so busted for awhile in standard. Thank god it's not in standard.
What? Zombies was tier 2 at best back then. Even when RTR came about with BG zombie support, people played other stuff.
 
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