Now for the final installment of my five part series. I'm very glad to get this done. If you're wondering why I even bothered to do this, you're not alone. I wonder too. Maybe deep down inside I want to be like William Spanial, maybe I think I actually have a valid opinion, or maybe I read a book on writing and it said to "write what you know".
Apparently I think I know Magic. Only time will tell.
Morningtide, Green (for the final time, any card worth being discussed at length will be discussed at length, otherwise it'll be ignored. These are opinions, so please, trea them as such)
Ambassador Oak - 3G
Creature - Treefolk Warrior (Common)
When Ambassador Oak comes into play, put a 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature token into play.
3/3
Standard: Awe, how cute! And utterly useless. If they switch it (a 1/1 making a 3/3) then this would actually be better, since Revelliark could bring it back. That's probably why they didn't. Bastards.
Extended: Based on the above card the following cards could exist; 2G for a 2/2 druid that creates a 1/1 saproling, 1G for a 1/1 dude that creates a 1/1 dork, 4GG for a wurm that creates a 1/1 worm, and so forth. In otherwords Extended ignores it.
Limited: As usual, another card made specifically for limited. This is as close as we'll get (outside of a changeling) to a duel tribed card. Now if only we had some legimate reason to cross the two over. At least it's strong enough to be playable. There are very few creatures I'd take over this guy while drafting.
Bosk Banneret - 1G
Creature - Treefolk Shaman (Common)
Treefolk spells and Shaman spells you play cost {1} less to play.
1/3
Standard: This fits perfectly into Doran, if he needed to cost one less. It does work with Poorlash (Dauntless Dourbark) for a 5/5 trampler turn 3, which isn't too bad. On the Shaman front there's really nothing this interacts with. Which is also sad. All this seeming potential and nothing to do with t.
Extended: - - -
Limited: A 1/3 for two is very defensible and the reduction of cost for treefolk actually matters. Worth it if you're already in treefolk, not a big threat if you're not.
Bramblewood Paragon - 1G
Creature - Elf Warrior (Uncommon)
Each other Warrior creature you control comes into play with an additional +1/+1 counter on it.
Each creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it has trample.
2/2
Standard: The trample is irrevelant, but the fact he cost two and makes your other warriors bigger does have an impact, if warriors are able to break out onto the tournament scene this guy might be a part of that.
Extended: Considering how there's only a moderate chance that RG warriors could break out in standard, that makes it very unlikely in extended and given that there're no warriors that stand out, it ain't going to happen.
Limited: A very good limited guy, especially since most playable elves are also warriors. Imperious Perfect is INSANE with this guy!
Chameleon Colossus - 2GG
Creature - Shapeshifter (Rare)
Changeling (This card is every creature type at all times)
Protection from Black
{2}{G}{G}: Chameleon Colossus gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is equal to its power.
4/4
Standard: I'm going to go out on a limb and say, this is crap. Kidding! Legion (as I will call this, read a bible sometime and you'll figure it out) will be greatly over-rated, but will still turn out to be a great card. There are no tribes that can't run this and dare I say, it can be bigger than Goyf. Blue is the one color (counter, bounce, Psionic Blast) that pwns Legion. That's only 1 color and only about a 3rd of the field, which definetely puts it up on tier one status. This actually reminds me of Jitte. Not so much in power level, but in the sense that it fits in almost any deck and enables many decks that alternatively couldn't exist without it. Just consider any tribal deck. Go ahead. Now add this guy in (and before you say GG is impossible to splash bar in mind some top 8's that splashed red solely for Siege-Gang Commander). Legion doesn't chance the format, he adds to it.
Extended: He'll see play in alot of decks. Alot.
Limited: This is a guy who should be picked over removal. Everytime. I don't care if you're not playing green, you now will.
Cream of the Crop - 1G
Enchantment (Rare)
Whenever a creature comes into play under your control, you may look at the top X cards of your library, where X is that creature's power. If you do, put one of those cards on top of your library and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
Standard: This is one of those cards that really surprises me, because it's so damn good. Much like Legion this is something that actually enables many decks that look weak, but just need a little push in the right direction. heck, even faeries could use this thing.
Extended: Doesn't have an immediate impact on the game, which hurts it here. That lack of immediate impact can be compensated for in standard, but not in extended.
Limited: So worth playing here. Most people will decry this as overrated, but they are just jealous that I got to call this first as being the next big thing. It's all about the future folks! You can't fight the future! I'm looking at you John Conner!
Deglamer - 1G
Instant (Common)
Choose target artifact or enchantment. Its owner shuffles it into his or her library.
Standard: This doesn't have apl ce just yet. It almost makes me think they're about to finally make Auras that you can play from your grave (which gets around the whole two for one thing, can't figure out why they haven't done that yet). Beyond that stick with Krosan Grip.
Extended: - - -
Limited: "shrug" If you need it I guess it gets the job done. Until they redraw the removed card.
Earthbrawn - 1G
Instant (Common)
Target creature gets +3/+3 until end of turn.
Reinforce 1 - {1}{G} ({1}{G}, Discard this card: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.)
Standard: crap
Extended: - - -
Limited: It's actually a very good combat trick. THe reinforce should only be used on creatures that actually do something with counters.
Elvish Warrior - GG
Creature - Elf Warrior (Common)
2/3
Standard: - - -
Extended: - - -
Limited: A big butt elf for it's cost is never a bad thing. Plus, it's a warrior. Which will help.
Everbark Shaman - 4G
Creature - Treefolk Shaman (Common)
{T}, Remove a Treefolk card in your graveyard from the game: Search your library for up to two Forest cards and put them into play tapped. Then shuffle your library.
3/5
Standard: "sigh" not a strong card at all. I'd rather have an attacker on turn fice.
Extended: - - -
Limited: A great end of turn trick leaving you with a 3/5 blocker and a progressively thinned out deck and when the forest have all dried up you bring the 3/5 online and towards the red zone.
Fertilid - 2G
Creature - Elemental (Common)
Fertilid comes into play with two +1/+1 counters on it.
{1}{G}, Remove a +1/+1 counter from Fertilid: Target player searches his or her library for a basic land card and puts it into play tapped. Then that player shuffles his or her library.
0/0
Standard: - - -
Extended: - - -
Limited: You spend two turns getting two lands out, , , this is not a high pick. It does fix your mana in a pinch and will probably go unchecked, but if you don't have an Oakgnarl Warrior or something else equally big it may not be worth the time investment.
Game-Trail Changeling - 3GG
Creature - Shapeshifter (Common)
Changeling
Trample
4/4
Standard: Legion wins.
Extended: Legion wins again.
Limited: Legion is rare, good luck with that. This is a very strong changeling. Most of the counter lords cost 2 or 3 so this guy could get quite the boost by the time hit touches down. Durable against removal and tramples over chump blocker. Don't underestimate the Game-Trail or it'll run you over.
Gilt-Leaf Archdruid - 3GG
Creature - Elf Druid (Rare)
Whenever you play a Druid spell, you may draw a card.
Tap seven untapped Druids you control: Gain control of all lands target player controls.
3/3
Standard: There are remarkably few druids, the number of changelings helps with that, and Shields of Velis Vel gives you the combo piece needed to steal all the other guys lands without anyway they can stop it. Will this deck be tournament level? If by tournament you mean FNM then that's a huge maybe.
Extended: - - -
Limited: Without Shield of Velis Vel it's impossible. Not a high pick at all.
Greatbow Doyen - 4G
Creature - Elf Archer (Rare)
Other Archer creatures you control get +1/+1.
Whenever an Archer creature you control deals damage to a creature, that Archer deals that much damage to that creature's controller.
2/4
Standard: Faeries will want to counter the hell out of this. This and Lys Alana Bowmaster will kill off alot of those little bastards along with the player playing them. Sadly, five mana is alot and faeries probably won't fear this too much.
Extended: - - -
Limited: If you can get some archers (5 total) or changelings, then this isn't too bad. I just wouldn't bet the farm on it.
Heritage Druid - G
Creature - Elf Druid (Uncommon)
Tap three untapped Elves you control: Add {G}{G}{G} to your mana pool.
1/1
Standard: Three is alot of creatures to tap and with token generation it's almost possible, but not very effective. Oddly, if this just required you to tap three creautres, then this would enable merfolk decks nicely.
Extended: - - -
Limited: If you get an Imperious Perfect, then your probably winning anyways.
Hunting Triad - 3G
Tribal Sorcery - Elf (Uncommon)
Put three 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature tokens into play.
Reinforce 3 - ({3}{G}, Discard this card: put three +1/+1 counters on target creature.)
Standard: Probably the only really good reinforce spell. Three Elf Warriors ain't bad, being an elf spell is certainly good, and three counters that can't be countered are all very good things. Just not for standard. Go ahead, prove me wrong.
Extended: - - -
Limited: Everything pointed out above hold very true here. It's about even how often you'll probably use both versions.
Leaf-Crowned Elder - 2GG
Creature - Treefolk Shaman (Rare)
Kinship - At the beginning of your upkeep, you may look at the top card of your library. If it shares a creature type with Leaf-Crowned Elder, you may reveal it. If you do, you may play that card without paying its mana cost.
3/5
Standard: This will be a heavily played card and not just in Doran decks. This will enable a wide variety of treefolk type decks. Sadly, the shaman aspect of this card is more of a hinderance than anything else. Luckily there's already a deck that craves this guy.
Extended: I feel this guy is powerful enough to warrent playing in this format. Free spells are broken, we already know and free fatties ain't bad either.
Limited: If you open this, congradulations, if the guy next to you passes this, punch him, then thank him for being an idiot.
Luminescent Rain - 2G
Instant (Common)
Choose a creature type. You gain 2 life for each permanent you control of that type.
Standard: Suffers from the overcommittance conundrum. Oh yeah, and it's life gain.
Extended: - - -
Limited: - - -
Lys Alana Bowmaster - 2G
Creature - Elf Archer (Common)
Reach
Whenever you play an Elf spell, you may have Lys Alana Bowmaster deal 2 damage to target creature with flying.
2/2
Standard: This guy will be giving faeries quite the head ache should he actually hit play. Add the Doyen to the mix and this is just ridiculas. Could even make the maindeck in some elf builds.
Extended: - - -
Limited: Only a sideboad card here, but still very good.
-
To be finished tomorrow. All apologies for not getting it finished.
Tags: Morningtide Lorwyn Magic Gathering Green Artifact Land Spoiler Standard Lim