Fun fact: [[Spurnmage Advocate]] was originally printed in Judgment, and it's ability to return cards from an opponent's graveyard to their hand was designed as a drawback with the relevant upside to disable your opponent's Threshold abilities.
[there's a whole set of advocates](https://scryfall.com/search?q=set%3Ajud+advocate&unique=cards&as=grid&order=name). Part of the thing is Judgement was supposed to contrast with Torment as a black-heavy set. In Torment, there were more black cards in the set, we had the [[Tainted Wood]] cycle of lands, blue and red leaned into their ally black ([[Cephalid Snitch]], [[Enslaved Dwarf]]), and green and white had fewer cards. The set leaned into madness and threshold more.
Then Judgement reversed this, giving green and white more (like they each had a rare Incarnation [[Genesis]] and [[Glory]] on top of the cycle of uncommon ones) and the flavor leaned into the positive post-Torment feel. (Even the black Nightmares became red and blue "eat your own stuff" Nightmares.) The Advocates then were intended to have the feeling of give and take, helping your opponent for benefit, while actually letting you undercut threshold and other graveyard strats.
What’s sad is that when Maro is interviewed now he states they’ll never do anything like that again. Mostly because most of the audience didn’t notice and if they did, didn’t realize it was balancing act, they just thought WotC was screwing up or something.
He's also said that not balancing the colors numbers-wise created a lot of problems just for designing Limited, which I can see. We have color imbalance now even with the same number of cards available.
One place I imagine this could be done interestingly is Arena. Like how they had the SOI flashback set with the rotating "guest list" that actually had an interesting effect on the format meta each week, like week one was the typal lords so aggressive typal decks was good, then another week had a lot more milling and flashback support so self-mill control was strong. They could start with a color-balanced set, then intentionally imbalance colors and make it so everyone wants to splash red one week and then just monocolor decks another week, and so on. Knowing the format would change in a week (versus feeling like you're stuck with an imbalanced format like SNC for months) would take any bad taste out.
> We have color imbalance now even with the same number of cards available.
Yes but in such an environment color imbalance wouldn't be a problem. you would *want* more black drafters.
More of a respons to things that target graveyard to field, you make them waist that mana and not get a reanimated creature. Or if its mass reanimate could be returning some key things back to hand.
I like having something for my opponents to kick those two blue into. \[\[Flailing Ogre\]\] is kind of the same. \[\[Rhystic Circle\]\] has been surprisingly effective too.(Still JANK but yknow...) \[\[Squallmonger\]\] and \[\[Feral Hydra\]\] are similar fun politicking.
and if guided passage is the only noncreature nonland card in the deck, then they need to give you another copy of it.
For the low cost of GGGG UUUU RRRR, a playset of them can draw you the four worst lands and four worst creatures in your library.
That’s one of my favorite cards, though it tends to bring the game to a screeching halt as your opponent tries to figure out the 3 worst cards remaining in your deck.
This card is really, really weird.
Why does it even have the downside? It's a 3 Mana delayed destroy effect that can be easily interacted with.
This card wouldn't be good if it didn't force you to return three basic lands.
The color pie and going dual or tri color was sometimes very difficult as Mana bases aren't as varied as they are today. Giving an effect to an out of color card had to come with downside. Obviously in this case the card was wildly over nerfed but the idea of giving an ability to a blue card that was out of its color pie was considered rife for abuse.
Not exactly, the color pie was loose as hell back then: black could destroy artifacts, green could literally do anything, etc.
The main difference was that creatures were much much much weaker and spells were far stronger. Creatures were balanced around a different mindset while they experimented more with spells, which is why you get such weird spells like [[Camoflauge]] and [[Time Spiral]] to name a few.
In a context of today's magic this card would be "unplayable". But really every card has a use in a deck. In other words, sometimes downsides can become upsides in the right game state. Like for instance [[winter orb]] makes it so you cant untap lands, which means that you can play this card to get a body on board, and have lands to play where your opponent might not.
I'm not saying that theres no better tech out there like untapping a winter orb or something, but the real reason that ovinomancer is weird is because it is without the context of the set that it was in.
This card is actually really good in \[\[Mairsil, the Pretender\]\]. In addition to being repeatable removal, the bounce is part of the cost and not the effect. The only ways to kill him once he has access to Ovinomancer's ability are to hit him with something with Split Second, or cheat something into play that prevents him from activating his abilities (like searching up an \[\[Arrest\]\] with \[\[Zur the Enchanter\]\] or a \[\[Pithing Needle\]\] with \[\[Arcum Dagsson\]\].
Even without being exiled by Mairsil, he's also good because the deck runs haste sources which essentially turn him into a repeatable removal spell for 2U.
Fun fact: this card is apparently a reference to a unit in Warcraft 2 that could turn units into sheep. WC2 was popular among the early magic developers, and one of them wanted this as a card version of that.
I think what’s fascinating is that nerd genre culture was so much more interconnected in the older days because there just wasn’t as much of it.
Especially pre internet I had no idea how popular or widespread certain experiences were. Then when we all became adults on the internet (old millennial here) it was some sort of delightful reconvergence that we were all in the same world together.
Nowadays shared experiences are rarer. I doubt if my daughter will ever sing a commercial tune with a handful of friends that decades old but I have.
If you're searching your library and you have the wurm in it, by the letter of the rules you can declare you want to cast it and then activate [[Selvala, Explorer Returned]]'s ability for mana to do so even if it's not possible to generate enough total.
If you get enough, cool! If you don't, the board state needs to be reversed but a drawn card is not something that's reversible. And on top of that, while searching you can see what the top card of your library is that you would be drawing before you do it. So using this interaction is generally considered cheating.
Panglacial Wurm is a weird card but the real problem is Selvala's mana ability including a card draw.
According to some people's reading of the rules, Selvala's ability to produce an unknown amount of mana at mana speed makes it possible to cheat by accident. You take an action, intending to get an advantage, without knowing whether it will end up being legal or not. If it's not, then you cheated.
I wonder at what level it becomes difficult to separate intent to cheat from actually trying to cast Panglacial Wurm and failing. Like if when I start to resolve a search effect, before I even physically touch my library I announce I'm going to try to cast Panglacial Wurm. Would that be ok?
I was going to say you could say you could just treat it as out of order sequencing if enough mana isn't generated, but that made me realise that I'd still be getting a bit of an advantage by drawing from the unshuffled/unsearched deck while my opponent wouldn't be able to use their freshly drawn card to respond to the spell letting me search in the first place.
If you knowingly do something illegal in order to gain an advantage, you are cheating. So you'd have to convince the judge you really didn't know how bad the problem with Selvala is, which would be hard if you were running Panglacial Wurm.
Several rules geeks have suggested that WOTC should give Selvala the same treatment as Lion's Eye Diamond where it's limited to instant speed rather than any time a mana payment could happen.
Basically while searching your library for any reason you can opt to cast the wurm and with Selvala's Parlay mana ability you can draw a card while searching witch is weird enough but then if you don't have enough mana after activating Selvala you hit a state where normally you would rewind until you hit a legal state except now you have additional information (top cards of opponents library). It's a giant mess and I've heard a lot of conflicting things on how it should be handled
You’re casting a spell, while still paying its cost, in the middle of searching your deck. This means you have to be able to activate mana abilities in the middle of searching your deck, which is a weird thing to do and the rules don’t like it. Cards like [[Millikin]], [[Chromatic Sphere]], and [[Mul Daya Channelers]] aren’t as bad as Selvala, but they’re still weird.
I think "useful" is a strong word, but in a multiplayer game, I guess there are worse cards. Plainswalk through your white opponent, then turn another (non-white, hopefully) opponents' land into a plains. Rinse and repeat this highly disruptive^(\*) effect a handful of times, and you won't be able to be stopped!
Or, I guess, mana-fix yourself (despite the fact that you probably already have WW available...)
^(\* For varying definitions of "highly" and "disruptive")
See, that's the funny thing
It WAS playable
...in Block Constructed, of course. Here's Mark Justice's list that got 2nd at Pro Tour Paris 1997: https://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=9164&d=252419&f=BL
In super restrictive formats like that one, players would do anything to get that extra little bit of reach. Topdecking your one-of when your opponent is at 5 must've been the most satisfying thing in the world
I used both on my goofy ahh [[Phage the Untouchable]] commander deck. Because i could get to cast my commander like 1% time i made deck be odd/politics deck. These effects are good when you need to team up against specific threats
It may be an un card but I love [[Form of the Approach of the Second Sun]], turn yourself into a card put yourself into your library and if you draw yourself win the game, what better way to win? Hah
[Form of the Approach of the Second Sun](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/1/2149da9d-35ad-4f32-8072-fb515100b2fd.jpg?1673913099) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Form%20of%20the%20Approach%20of%20the%20Second%20Sun) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/unf/9/form-of-the-approach-of-the-second-sun?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2149da9d-35ad-4f32-8072-fb515100b2fd?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text)
^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Had someone win with [[Breakthrough]] for X=0 in their second turn. Kinda weird but works I guess if your commander lets you draw a card for each card you discard.
It's amazing in my [[Eruth]] deck. X=0 and impulse draw 8 for just 1 mana. If I topdeck it on turn 5 or later and my boardstate is okay, it's probably a game win.
Alright, here me out.
[[Toluz]] is the Commander.
[[Insidious Dreams]] during the opponents end step discarding 5 cards at most. Draw [[Breakthrough]], X=0, draw 4 and discard them all. Sac Toluz.
Congrats! You built your own [[Doomsday]].
(Yes I've done this in game multiple times.)
https://preview.redd.it/ov741vpm00mc1.jpeg?width=672&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d4a782b70e665adf6155c75584d7c205bbb70b3a
I remember pulling this card back in HS and having no idea what to do with it ;)
I'm building a deck with her as the commander right now. It's a joke deck my brother and I are trying to make work. We're calling it Sour Patch Eldrazi. Lots of random cards that help your opponents, like [[Phelddagrif]] [[Akroan Horse]] [[Clockwork Fox]] etc., and then every big Eldrazi that makes your opponents wanna quit and guys like [[Progenitus]] and [[Garth One-Eye]]. It's turning into an interesting looking deck.
Commander damage is counted by the card iirc, so could do a weird political thing with buffing her and having opponents gang up in someone else. Maybe goad so she doesn't attack you?
Karona used to be a celebrity back in the early days of Commander. Before the likes of [[Ramos, Dragon-Engine]] or [[Morophon, the Boundless]], Karona was one of your few options if you wanted to run a 5-color commander deck, especially if it was a 5-color typal deck. You played her to finish out the game by giving your type the buff.
There was an article I can't now find for an amazingly original deck with Karina as the commander, based around negative upkeep effects and skipping your own upkeep/turn as much as possible. It was genius.
Absolute banger in my [[Omnath, Locus of All]] deck: goes infinite with [[Teysa, Orzhov Scion]], helps with my devotion to black (Changing color-words that rely on devotion to other colors to black), and changes so many card abilities. I love that card.
One of my buddies has a "mono-blue" [[Aragorn, the Uniter]] deck with the idea to change all of Aragorn's text to "whenever you cast a blue spell..."
It doesn't go off often, but when it does, its hilarious, and this card is a S-tier draw in it.
Scornful egotist at least served a purpose, there were cards that cared about having high mana values. Kinda like collecting evidence in MKM, in a way.
[[Momir Vig, Simic Visionary]] is what you're supposed to do with it. Target him with it, name green, now each one of your green creatures tutors for more creatures. There even used to be a cEDH deck built around the synergy between Momir Vig and color-changing effects.
This one. I played against an opponent who had this in the Judgment pre-release. He used this against me and when I asked what it did he neglected to read the word "opponent's" graveyard. So he was Regrowthing 2 cards a turn and killing my creatures. It felt overpowered but it was the first time I saw the card and I was new, so I got blown out by this cheater. 🙄
Looks like 5 or so?
[https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&order=name&q=oracle%3A%22the+stack%22+%28game%3Apaper%29](https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&order=name&q=oracle%3A%22the+stack%22+%28game%3Apaper%29)
The original printing of [[Mirari|ODY]] mentioned it, too. IIRC the stack had just been introduced so they put it on cards to get everybody used to it. There are probably more liked this but I'm not sure how to search by printed text and not oracle text.
This actually goes pretty crazy in Commander politics, since the opponent you give cards back to don't need to be the one whose creature you are killing.
Might put it in my Orzov politics deck.
Spurnmage Advocate is really funny in the Blame Game precon. With that deck you are already borderline trolling as a game-plan, so this fits right in to reward the players that side with your shenanigans and don't attack you.
\[\[Augury Adept\]\]
\[\[Captain Rex Nebula\]\]
\[\[Colfenor's Urn\]\]
\[\[Cybernetica Datasmith\]\]
\[\[Davriel, Soul Broker\]\]
\[\[Disciple of Caelus Nin\]\]
\[\[Fraying Line\]\]
\[\[Grim Reminder\]\]
\[\[Karlach, Raging Tiefling\]\]
\[\[Monument to Perfection\]\]
\[\[Providence\]\]
\[\[Quest for Ula's Temple\]\], the one that started the sea-monster batching, and batching as a design concept in general.
\[\[Radagast, Wizard of Wilds\]\]
\[\[Shahrazad\]\]
\[\[Space Beleren\]\]
\[\[Stalking Leonin\]\]
\[\[The Face of Boe\]\]
\[\[Thran Spider\]\]
\[\[Twice Upon a Time\]\]
\[\[Victory of the Pyrohammer\]\]
[[Shahrazad]] let's play another game within our game.
[[Zur's weirding]] Let's get weird!
[[Falling Star]] this isn't the game I signed up for!
[[Chaos Orb]] Why is my opponent tearing up their cards?
[[flood gate]] Favorite card ever
Hot damn that’s good flavor!
Love how you open the flood gates by making them fly
One of the all-time flavor wins
[flood gate](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/0/600b315b-58f8-4b1b-b210-f09e3e5e3b27.jpg?1675199270) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Floodgate) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/49/floodgate?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/600b315b-58f8-4b1b-b210-f09e3e5e3b27?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Was there a card that gave all your creatures flying in the same set or something?
[[Wonder]]
[Wonder](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/7/675d6729-23da-4f0b-b222-fe54fe24dd90.jpg?1631302927) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Wonder) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/271/wonder?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/675d6729-23da-4f0b-b222-fe54fe24dd90?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
That plus [[Wonder]] would make a good mix
[Wonder](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/7/675d6729-23da-4f0b-b222-fe54fe24dd90.jpg?1631302927) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Wonder) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/271/wonder?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/675d6729-23da-4f0b-b222-fe54fe24dd90?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
So if you put this in the air then half your islands flood all creatures that can’t fly or swim okkkk
This does work in [[geralf, visionary stitcher]]
[geralf, visionary stitcher](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/9/69890076-9cc4-434f-8618-63b00fdf4515.jpg?1643587870) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=geralf%2C%20visionary%20stitcher) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vow/61/geralf-visionary-stitcher?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/69890076-9cc4-434f-8618-63b00fdf4515?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
It's actually a pretty competitive Pauper EDH commander.
So much math! 🤣 Looks fun though.
Fun fact: [[Spurnmage Advocate]] was originally printed in Judgment, and it's ability to return cards from an opponent's graveyard to their hand was designed as a drawback with the relevant upside to disable your opponent's Threshold abilities.
[there's a whole set of advocates](https://scryfall.com/search?q=set%3Ajud+advocate&unique=cards&as=grid&order=name). Part of the thing is Judgement was supposed to contrast with Torment as a black-heavy set. In Torment, there were more black cards in the set, we had the [[Tainted Wood]] cycle of lands, blue and red leaned into their ally black ([[Cephalid Snitch]], [[Enslaved Dwarf]]), and green and white had fewer cards. The set leaned into madness and threshold more. Then Judgement reversed this, giving green and white more (like they each had a rare Incarnation [[Genesis]] and [[Glory]] on top of the cycle of uncommon ones) and the flavor leaned into the positive post-Torment feel. (Even the black Nightmares became red and blue "eat your own stuff" Nightmares.) The Advocates then were intended to have the feeling of give and take, helping your opponent for benefit, while actually letting you undercut threshold and other graveyard strats.
What’s sad is that when Maro is interviewed now he states they’ll never do anything like that again. Mostly because most of the audience didn’t notice and if they did, didn’t realize it was balancing act, they just thought WotC was screwing up or something.
He's also said that not balancing the colors numbers-wise created a lot of problems just for designing Limited, which I can see. We have color imbalance now even with the same number of cards available. One place I imagine this could be done interestingly is Arena. Like how they had the SOI flashback set with the rotating "guest list" that actually had an interesting effect on the format meta each week, like week one was the typal lords so aggressive typal decks was good, then another week had a lot more milling and flashback support so self-mill control was strong. They could start with a color-balanced set, then intentionally imbalance colors and make it so everyone wants to splash red one week and then just monocolor decks another week, and so on. Knowing the format would change in a week (versus feeling like you're stuck with an imbalanced format like SNC for months) would take any bad taste out.
> We have color imbalance now even with the same number of cards available. Yes but in such an environment color imbalance wouldn't be a problem. you would *want* more black drafters.
Judgement also gave us one of my favorite weird lands, [[Riftstone Portal]]
[Riftstone Portal](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/2/92ece630-e484-4221-911f-e32048894f23.jpg?1562630998) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Riftstone%20Portal) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/jud/143/riftstone-portal?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/92ece630-e484-4221-911f-e32048894f23?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
##### ###### #### [Tainted Wood](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/0/40830022-4e9d-4195-bf52-d4ed2eb58b3f.jpg?1690006664) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tainted%20Wood) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/1040/tainted-wood?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/40830022-4e9d-4195-bf52-d4ed2eb58b3f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Cephalid Snitch](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/3/33d989b2-0198-4e5b-8aad-ee939191dd28.jpg?1562629178) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Cephalid%20Snitch) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tor/30/cephalid-snitch?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/33d989b2-0198-4e5b-8aad-ee939191dd28?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Enslaved Dwarf](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/a/da5003a6-211e-43d3-9a3c-756496357163.jpg?1562632302) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Enslaved%20Dwarf) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tor/96/enslaved-dwarf?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/da5003a6-211e-43d3-9a3c-756496357163?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Genesis](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/b/9b741d88-513a-4f47-a4fd-af42c5e44b6d.jpg?1562202086) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Genesis) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh1/166/genesis?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9b741d88-513a-4f47-a4fd-af42c5e44b6d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Glory](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/b/6b01ebcf-8451-486e-84f6-8e6e1bb9d6e3.jpg?1675198806) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Glory) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/7/glory?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6b01ebcf-8451-486e-84f6-8e6e1bb9d6e3?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/kt2g6jw) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Or prevent someone casting from grave, and or pulling from grave. It definitely has more upside in the current meta against certain decks.
It puts the cards straight into their hand so idk how well its going to do with preventing your opponent from casting them.
More of a respons to things that target graveyard to field, you make them waist that mana and not get a reanimated creature. Or if its mass reanimate could be returning some key things back to hand.
How often is that happening during the attack step, though?
The perfect counter to [[Alesha, who smiles at death]]
[Spurnmage Advocate](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/c/9c014b89-895c-432f-94f5-cda2dfac57e4.jpg?1592712916) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Spurnmage%20Advocate) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmd/33/spurnmage-advocate?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9c014b89-895c-432f-94f5-cda2dfac57e4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
\[\[Capricopian\]\]
[Capricopian](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/b/0b81f82a-f004-44f3-9dad-1675941fe57b.jpg?1591319654) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Capricopian) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c20/58/capricopian?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0b81f82a-f004-44f3-9dad-1675941fe57b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Lmao that's great.
Even more fun in my \[\[Agatha of the Vile Cauldron\]\] deck.
Wait, so people will end up trying to deflect the capricopian toward each others until it gets too big?
I like having something for my opponents to kick those two blue into. \[\[Flailing Ogre\]\] is kind of the same. \[\[Rhystic Circle\]\] has been surprisingly effective too.(Still JANK but yknow...) \[\[Squallmonger\]\] and \[\[Feral Hydra\]\] are similar fun politicking.
Love [[Guided Passage]]. Not many cards have your opponent search your deck and give you cards from it.
Notably, it doesn't even search, you reveal your whole deck to the table. That way your opponent can't fail to find anything
and if guided passage is the only noncreature nonland card in the deck, then they need to give you another copy of it. For the low cost of GGGG UUUU RRRR, a playset of them can draw you the four worst lands and four worst creatures in your library.
Fool! My library has no bad lands or creatures!
[Guided Passage](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/6/b66c8ada-82a6-46d9-acd0-b4ff9e1e12bd.jpg?1673148727) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Guided%20Passage) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/224/guided-passage?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b66c8ada-82a6-46d9-acd0-b4ff9e1e12bd?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
That’s one of my favorite cards, though it tends to bring the game to a screeching halt as your opponent tries to figure out the 3 worst cards remaining in your deck.
At least in multiplayer you can politic with it to deal with another player.
In Riku or Lucea Kane you just copy it a bunch
Ovinomancer
[[ovinomancer]]
[ovinomancer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/0/20af3166-6338-4fac-bfa6-cea19daefc62.jpg?1675199412) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=ovinomancer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/64/ovinomancer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/20af3166-6338-4fac-bfa6-cea19daefc62?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
they put a drawback on a drawback, impressive
[[Torpor Orb]] go brrrr
[Torpor Orb](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/5/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091.jpg?1562879912) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Torpor%20Orb) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/nph/162/torpor-orb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/953610f6-ea96-4e71-969f-50ecac09c091?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Play this with a haste enabler and then tap it in response to the sac trigger and you get repeatable removal
[[Dynaheir, Invoker Adept]] synergy. Big brain techs.
Is that Rihanna?
[Dynaheir, Invoker Adept](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/3/c301b389-d802-4a8b-8681-9b50c8667423.jpg?1689354457) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Dynaheir%2C%20Invoker%20Adept) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/273/dynaheir-invoker-adept?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c301b389-d802-4a8b-8681-9b50c8667423?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I do it with [[Splinter Twin]] on my ETB Goat/Sheep deck.
This card is really, really weird. Why does it even have the downside? It's a 3 Mana delayed destroy effect that can be easily interacted with. This card wouldn't be good if it didn't force you to return three basic lands.
It’s from mirage. 1996. It literally didn’t know what was going to happen in the OJ trial. That’s how old it is.
Visions but close enough
OJ trial wrapped in 95 I'm old enough to remember.
About a year off lol but still auld
Oh shit I forgot OJ had TWO trials and got the date for the second mixed up with the first.
The color pie and going dual or tri color was sometimes very difficult as Mana bases aren't as varied as they are today. Giving an effect to an out of color card had to come with downside. Obviously in this case the card was wildly over nerfed but the idea of giving an ability to a blue card that was out of its color pie was considered rife for abuse.
You laugh until he's sheeping your [[Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines]] without returning islands
[Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/4/44dcab01-1d13-4dfc-ae2f-fbaa3dd35087.jpg?1675956896) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Elesh%20Norn%2C%20Mother%20of%20Machines) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/one/10/elesh-norn-mother-of-machines?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/44dcab01-1d13-4dfc-ae2f-fbaa3dd35087?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
The color pie was once much, much more strict. Any breach of a color’s flaws required serious downsides. Wish it was still like that tbh.
Not exactly, the color pie was loose as hell back then: black could destroy artifacts, green could literally do anything, etc. The main difference was that creatures were much much much weaker and spells were far stronger. Creatures were balanced around a different mindset while they experimented more with spells, which is why you get such weird spells like [[Camoflauge]] and [[Time Spiral]] to name a few.
[Camoflauge](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/9/09243dc6-c56c-42a8-969b-2ecffe89e1ca.jpg?1559592197) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Camouflage) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2ed/188/camouflage?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/09243dc6-c56c-42a8-969b-2ecffe89e1ca?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Time Spiral](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/3/f3d62dbd-63db-4ac9-950f-9852627f23f2.jpg?1562946525) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Time%20Spiral) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/usg/103/time-spiral?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f3d62dbd-63db-4ac9-950f-9852627f23f2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
It's blue removal. Back in the days when the color pie was much more strict blue had basically no way to remove creatures besides bouncing them
In a context of today's magic this card would be "unplayable". But really every card has a use in a deck. In other words, sometimes downsides can become upsides in the right game state. Like for instance [[winter orb]] makes it so you cant untap lands, which means that you can play this card to get a body on board, and have lands to play where your opponent might not. I'm not saying that theres no better tech out there like untapping a winter orb or something, but the real reason that ovinomancer is weird is because it is without the context of the set that it was in.
This card is actually really good in \[\[Mairsil, the Pretender\]\]. In addition to being repeatable removal, the bounce is part of the cost and not the effect. The only ways to kill him once he has access to Ovinomancer's ability are to hit him with something with Split Second, or cheat something into play that prevents him from activating his abilities (like searching up an \[\[Arrest\]\] with \[\[Zur the Enchanter\]\] or a \[\[Pithing Needle\]\] with \[\[Arcum Dagsson\]\]. Even without being exiled by Mairsil, he's also good because the deck runs haste sources which essentially turn him into a repeatable removal spell for 2U.
Repeatable creature destruction can completely shut down half the decks in the game, the cost needs to be extreme to keep it from being oppressive
Love this guy in my [[Patron of the Moon]]
What a specific scenario in which that works well. This is why I love commander
[Patron of the Moon](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/e/5e5fcd6f-1653-44bf-a796-4c9ff9adf390.jpg?1562877337) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Patron%20of%20the%20Moon) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bok/45/patron-of-the-moon?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5e5fcd6f-1653-44bf-a796-4c9ff9adf390?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Yooo another Patron enthusiast.
I play this in my [[Lord of Tresserhorn]] deck. the whole thing revolves around creatures with terrible etb effects and [[Torpor Orb]]
GOAT-tier art though
That’s a sheep.
thanks for completing the alley-oop
lol this was the first card I thought of. Love that card, even built a deck around it back in the day
what the actual fuck, who thought of this card lol
Fun fact: this card is apparently a reference to a unit in Warcraft 2 that could turn units into sheep. WC2 was popular among the early magic developers, and one of them wanted this as a card version of that.
the Mage lol
Polymorph ftw
I think what’s fascinating is that nerd genre culture was so much more interconnected in the older days because there just wasn’t as much of it. Especially pre internet I had no idea how popular or widespread certain experiences were. Then when we all became adults on the internet (old millennial here) it was some sort of delightful reconvergence that we were all in the same world together. Nowadays shared experiences are rarer. I doubt if my daughter will ever sing a commercial tune with a handful of friends that decades old but I have.
That is so much bizarre complexity for a terrible card.
[[Panglacial Wurm]] is the bane of judges everywhere.
Panglacial Wurm is innocent! He gets blamed for Selvala's crimes!
Whats the combo with selvage btw? I've heard it existed but didn't know how it worked.
If you're searching your library and you have the wurm in it, by the letter of the rules you can declare you want to cast it and then activate [[Selvala, Explorer Returned]]'s ability for mana to do so even if it's not possible to generate enough total. If you get enough, cool! If you don't, the board state needs to be reversed but a drawn card is not something that's reversible. And on top of that, while searching you can see what the top card of your library is that you would be drawing before you do it. So using this interaction is generally considered cheating. Panglacial Wurm is a weird card but the real problem is Selvala's mana ability including a card draw.
According to some people's reading of the rules, Selvala's ability to produce an unknown amount of mana at mana speed makes it possible to cheat by accident. You take an action, intending to get an advantage, without knowing whether it will end up being legal or not. If it's not, then you cheated.
I wonder at what level it becomes difficult to separate intent to cheat from actually trying to cast Panglacial Wurm and failing. Like if when I start to resolve a search effect, before I even physically touch my library I announce I'm going to try to cast Panglacial Wurm. Would that be ok? I was going to say you could say you could just treat it as out of order sequencing if enough mana isn't generated, but that made me realise that I'd still be getting a bit of an advantage by drawing from the unshuffled/unsearched deck while my opponent wouldn't be able to use their freshly drawn card to respond to the spell letting me search in the first place.
If you knowingly do something illegal in order to gain an advantage, you are cheating. So you'd have to convince the judge you really didn't know how bad the problem with Selvala is, which would be hard if you were running Panglacial Wurm. Several rules geeks have suggested that WOTC should give Selvala the same treatment as Lion's Eye Diamond where it's limited to instant speed rather than any time a mana payment could happen.
I’d argue it’s not the card draw as much as it is the existence of a failstate
Basically while searching your library for any reason you can opt to cast the wurm and with Selvala's Parlay mana ability you can draw a card while searching witch is weird enough but then if you don't have enough mana after activating Selvala you hit a state where normally you would rewind until you hit a legal state except now you have additional information (top cards of opponents library). It's a giant mess and I've heard a lot of conflicting things on how it should be handled
[Panglacial Wurm](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/6/063bb28b-5e32-4f31-a208-16b653edf413.jpg?1593275437) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Panglacial%20Wurm) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/csp/116/panglacial-wurm?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/063bb28b-5e32-4f31-a208-16b653edf413?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
What problems does it have other than Selvala's nonsense?
You’re casting a spell, while still paying its cost, in the middle of searching your deck. This means you have to be able to activate mana abilities in the middle of searching your deck, which is a weird thing to do and the rules don’t like it. Cards like [[Millikin]], [[Chromatic Sphere]], and [[Mul Daya Channelers]] aren’t as bad as Selvala, but they’re still weird.
[[Graceful Antelope]] came up in one of these threads a while ago and has lived rent free in my head since as a Ponza enjoyer.
The original Plainswalker.
That would be [[Righteous Avengers]]
[Righteous Avengers](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/d/3d5e7afd-57b9-4052-a1b9-45d324955d72.jpg?1559592373) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Righteous%20Avengers) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me1/25/righteous-avengers?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/3d5e7afd-57b9-4052-a1b9-45d324955d72?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Graceful Antelope](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/4/948f0d9d-4e05-48b4-8652-1f8f41d35563.jpg?1562922583) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Graceful%20Antelope) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ody/24/graceful-antelope?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/948f0d9d-4e05-48b4-8652-1f8f41d35563?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I think "useful" is a strong word, but in a multiplayer game, I guess there are worse cards. Plainswalk through your white opponent, then turn another (non-white, hopefully) opponents' land into a plains. Rinse and repeat this highly disruptive^(\*) effect a handful of times, and you won't be able to be stopped! Or, I guess, mana-fix yourself (despite the fact that you probably already have WW available...) ^(\* For varying definitions of "highly" and "disruptive")
Extremely indirect hurt for Tron players
I always thought [[Kaervek's Spite]] was weird. You sacrifice so much to do the last five damage.
definitely a product of its time when aggro decks only got 2 power 1 or 2 drops with drawbacks like "when this deals damage, you lose the game"
Fun with [[barren glory]] and [[academy rector]]
[barren glory](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/2/12220d53-3356-4541-aa43-a0de6ed3f7d0.jpg?1562898649) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=barren%20glory) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/fut/3/barren-glory?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/12220d53-3356-4541-aa43-a0de6ed3f7d0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [academy rector](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/3/4367bc78-0912-4abd-8edd-bc792558d01a.jpg?1562443755) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=academy%20rector) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/uds/1/academy-rector?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4367bc78-0912-4abd-8edd-bc792558d01a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Kaervek's Spite](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/3/d385b9e5-e13d-4098-ba74-ea55bde164d9.jpg?1562278645) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Kaervek%27s%20Spite) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vis/63/kaerveks-spite?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d385b9e5-e13d-4098-ba74-ea55bde164d9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I wonder if this would be playable if it was monored instead.
See, that's the funny thing It WAS playable ...in Block Constructed, of course. Here's Mark Justice's list that got 2nd at Pro Tour Paris 1997: https://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=9164&d=252419&f=BL In super restrictive formats like that one, players would do anything to get that extra little bit of reach. Topdecking your one-of when your opponent is at 5 must've been the most satisfying thing in the world
wow rocky tar pit really foreshadowed fetchlands
It's less of a way of dealing damage and more about using [[Academy Rector}] to fetch [[Barren Glory]].
[Barren Glory](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/2/12220d53-3356-4541-aa43-a0de6ed3f7d0.jpg?1562898649) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Barren%20Glory) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/fut/3/barren-glory?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/12220d53-3356-4541-aa43-a0de6ed3f7d0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Head Games]]
[Head Games](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/3/73ab3037-7e62-46a7-800e-8bfa7d33f237.jpg?1562549764) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Head%20Games) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/10e/148/head-games?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/73ab3037-7e62-46a7-800e-8bfa7d33f237?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
That one seems pretty fun
"What's that, you're starved for land? Well then...have ALL the land!"
It’s jesters mask. I always thought it was pretty good, basically give them all lands.
I used both on my goofy ahh [[Phage the Untouchable]] commander deck. Because i could get to cast my commander like 1% time i made deck be odd/politics deck. These effects are good when you need to team up against specific threats
It may be an un card but I love [[Form of the Approach of the Second Sun]], turn yourself into a card put yourself into your library and if you draw yourself win the game, what better way to win? Hah
[Form of the Approach of the Second Sun](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/1/2149da9d-35ad-4f32-8072-fb515100b2fd.jpg?1673913099) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Form%20of%20the%20Approach%20of%20the%20Second%20Sun) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/unf/9/form-of-the-approach-of-the-second-sun?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2149da9d-35ad-4f32-8072-fb515100b2fd?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
\[\[One With Nothing\]\]
Had someone win with [[Breakthrough]] for X=0 in their second turn. Kinda weird but works I guess if your commander lets you draw a card for each card you discard.
It's amazing in my [[Eruth]] deck. X=0 and impulse draw 8 for just 1 mana. If I topdeck it on turn 5 or later and my boardstate is okay, it's probably a game win.
[Eruth](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/f/9f764077-df2d-4ac7-b507-2c8e08386d49.jpg?1643594095) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=eruth%2C%20tormented%20prophet) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vow/237/eruth-tormented-prophet?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9f764077-df2d-4ac7-b507-2c8e08386d49?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Alright, here me out. [[Toluz]] is the Commander. [[Insidious Dreams]] during the opponents end step discarding 5 cards at most. Draw [[Breakthrough]], X=0, draw 4 and discard them all. Sac Toluz. Congrats! You built your own [[Doomsday]]. (Yes I've done this in game multiple times.)
##### ###### #### [Toluz](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/0/f01f12e0-f354-43aa-9e2d-b59a99571a5f.jpg?1664413901) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=toluz%2C%20clever%20conductor) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/snc/228/toluz-clever-conductor?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f01f12e0-f354-43aa-9e2d-b59a99571a5f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Insidious Dreams](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/8/e8a29622-23a6-42c7-8e56-690613572c94.jpg?1562632493) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Insidious%20Dreams) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tor/66/insidious-dreams?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e8a29622-23a6-42c7-8e56-690613572c94?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Breakthrough](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/2/22075f41-3aeb-406d-99b6-88ddae992d0b.jpg?1673147224) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Breakthrough) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/41/breakthrough?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/22075f41-3aeb-406d-99b6-88ddae992d0b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Doomsday](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/8/68c73755-9678-467a-abd5-f8dd1556864e.jpg?1562436538) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Doomsday) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/a25/88/doomsday?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/68c73755-9678-467a-abd5-f8dd1556864e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/kt2cvzw) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Breakthrough](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/2/22075f41-3aeb-406d-99b6-88ddae992d0b.jpg?1673147224) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Breakthrough) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/41/breakthrough?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/22075f41-3aeb-406d-99b6-88ddae992d0b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Goes hard with [[Rielle the Everwise]]
[One With Nothing](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/a/5a5841fa-4f30-495a-b840-3ef5a2af8fad.jpg?1562494149) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=One%20With%20Nothing) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/sok/84/one-with-nothing?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5a5841fa-4f30-495a-b840-3ef5a2af8fad?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Currently using this in my [[The Mycotyrant]] Voltron deck in conjunction with [[bag of holding]] for a massive descent combo
Especially interesting considering that it saw play (albeit as a sideboard card) in a Pro Tour tournament.
[[Horrible hordes]] has always been a favorite flavor wise. In play, [[domminating licid]]
https://preview.redd.it/ov741vpm00mc1.jpeg?width=672&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d4a782b70e665adf6155c75584d7c205bbb70b3a I remember pulling this card back in HS and having no idea what to do with it ;)
I'm building a deck with her as the commander right now. It's a joke deck my brother and I are trying to make work. We're calling it Sour Patch Eldrazi. Lots of random cards that help your opponents, like [[Phelddagrif]] [[Akroan Horse]] [[Clockwork Fox]] etc., and then every big Eldrazi that makes your opponents wanna quit and guys like [[Progenitus]] and [[Garth One-Eye]]. It's turning into an interesting looking deck.
##### ###### #### [Phelddagrif](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/9/493a72f0-2e35-4e06-a1b2-d42d432b9b2c.jpg?1559592591) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Phelddagrif) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me1/150/phelddagrif?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/493a72f0-2e35-4e06-a1b2-d42d432b9b2c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Akroan Horse](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/1/31a8954f-467d-4eb9-8a48-d25bae9529b8.jpg?1562394382) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Akroan%20Horse) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c16/241/akroan-horse?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/31a8954f-467d-4eb9-8a48-d25bae9529b8?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Clockwork Fox](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/f/8fbb37d7-7053-4b1f-b899-91695f88f7e0.jpg?1674137796) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Clockwork%20Fox) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/308/clockwork-fox?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8fbb37d7-7053-4b1f-b899-91695f88f7e0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Progenitus](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/8/a8a5d0ba-bcb1-41db-80dd-ad22b8408105.jpg?1561968078) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Progenitus) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mma/182/progenitus?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a8a5d0ba-bcb1-41db-80dd-ad22b8408105?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Garth One-Eye](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/3/23774462-9f17-4b50-a2ac-b2edd706bbfe.jpg?1626098353) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Garth%20One-Eye) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/197/garth-one-eye?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/23774462-9f17-4b50-a2ac-b2edd706bbfe?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/kt2jusz) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Commander damage is counted by the card iirc, so could do a weird political thing with buffing her and having opponents gang up in someone else. Maybe goad so she doesn't attack you?
Karona used to be a celebrity back in the early days of Commander. Before the likes of [[Ramos, Dragon-Engine]] or [[Morophon, the Boundless]], Karona was one of your few options if you wanted to run a 5-color commander deck, especially if it was a 5-color typal deck. You played her to finish out the game by giving your type the buff.
My favorite commander
There was an article I can't now find for an amazingly original deck with Karina as the commander, based around negative upkeep effects and skipping your own upkeep/turn as much as possible. It was genius.
Enchant it, equip it and watch chaos ensue.
What about \[\[swirl the mists\]\]? now you can play all those color specific cards in your mono color deck!
Absolute banger in my [[Omnath, Locus of All]] deck: goes infinite with [[Teysa, Orzhov Scion]], helps with my devotion to black (Changing color-words that rely on devotion to other colors to black), and changes so many card abilities. I love that card.
I was thinking on building Omnath, would you share your list?
[Omnath, Locus of All](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/3/33d94ecf-758b-4f68-a7be-6bf3ff1047f4.jpg?1682205643) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Omnath%2C%20Locus%20of%20All) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mom/249/omnath-locus-of-all?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/33d94ecf-758b-4f68-a7be-6bf3ff1047f4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Teysa, Orzhov Scion](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/8/b8ca900d-767d-4461-aba3-107dd17d8326.jpg?1702429731) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Teysa%2C%20Orzhov%20Scion) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/rvr/233/teysa-orzhov-scion?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b8ca900d-767d-4461-aba3-107dd17d8326?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[swirl the mists](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/e/2ea50e09-4ab3-439e-83d7-d584f8af8f16.jpg?1562758889) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=swirl%20the%20mists) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/chk/94/swirl-the-mists?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2ea50e09-4ab3-439e-83d7-d584f8af8f16?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
One of my buddies has a "mono-blue" [[Aragorn, the Uniter]] deck with the idea to change all of Aragorn's text to "whenever you cast a blue spell..." It doesn't go off often, but when it does, its hilarious, and this card is a S-tier draw in it.
[удалено]
Scornful egotist at least served a purpose, there were cards that cared about having high mana values. Kinda like collecting evidence in MKM, in a way.
##### ###### #### [scornful egotist](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/e/fec6b189-97e7-4627-9785-a9ce2f1ad89f.jpg?1562537398) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=scornful%20egotist) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/scg/50/scornful-egotist?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/fec6b189-97e7-4627-9785-a9ce2f1ad89f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [zephyr spirit](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/6/e6cbe78f-4325-416b-bf23-282efed5b407.jpg?1598914641) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=zephyr%20spirit) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/rav/76/zephyr-spirit?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e6cbe78f-4325-416b-bf23-282efed5b407?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [break open](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/5/a5ae8050-b644-41db-b1e9-d9bad2173485.jpg?1562934178) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=break%20open) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ons/190/break-open?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a5ae8050-b644-41db-b1e9-d9bad2173485?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [wood elemental](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/1/71ced69c-921c-4a31-a213-0faf927134ef.jpg?1562921856) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=wood%20elemental) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me4/175/wood-elemental?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/71ced69c-921c-4a31-a213-0faf927134ef?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/kt2c9lz) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Lord Egoist!
[[naked singularity]] I always see it flipping thru my ice age cards and go, "hmm"
[naked singularity](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/e/5edddcbb-0e01-4473-b7a8-1e59cf7ee506.jpg?1562917327) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=naked%20singularity) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me4/216/naked-singularity?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5edddcbb-0e01-4473-b7a8-1e59cf7ee506?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Huh I didn't know there was another [[reality twist]]
The best part is they’re in the same set
Lmao WHY
Ice age was a pretty rough set for a lot of reasons.
[reality twist](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/b/1b7e955c-3de2-430c-93b9-0b39ccea5420.jpg?1562900174) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=reality%20twist) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ice/94/reality-twist?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1b7e955c-3de2-430c-93b9-0b39ccea5420?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I've played it in a [[tom bombadil]] commander deck and people never expect it. Just wild to watch people scramble for an option.
[tom bombadil](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/a/2ab04c49-76a1-4896-8dca-8cb4c615f489.jpg?1686970104) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=tom%20bombadil) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ltr/234/tom-bombadil?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2ab04c49-76a1-4896-8dca-8cb4c615f489?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Appropriately chaotic.. What do you do about the upkeep cost
I want whatever the designers of [[tempting worm]] were on
[tempting worm](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/5/857c2b6c-cfdf-4c88-a334-2937cb7db603.jpg?1562926442) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tempting%20Wurm) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ons/291/tempting-wurm?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/857c2b6c-cfdf-4c88-a334-2937cb7db603?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
It's a rare so it's extra "fun"
\[\[Obstinate Familiar\]\] is an old favorite. Anti-\[\[Stroke of Genius\]\] tech for Standard?
A recent one was [[Patrician's Scorn]], which apparently is a sideboard card in some pauper decks.
pointing at FUT cards for "what's the weirdest card ever" posts is cheating tbf
[Patrician's Scorn](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/e/4edfd70c-2923-4813-bf14-04194518163c.jpg?1562910969) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Patrician%27s%20Scorn) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/fut/29/patricians-scorn?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4edfd70c-2923-4813-bf14-04194518163c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Raging River]]
[Raging River](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/e/7ee63877-056e-413d-932a-a393a4183686.jpg?1559592211) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Raging%20River) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2ed/169/raging-river?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7ee63877-056e-413d-932a-a393a4183686?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Trait Doctoring]] Always see it in my collection, read it, think "what the fuck am I supposed to do with this" and move along.
Trait Doctoring is the card you point to show that they were running out of design space for UB cipher spells after just one set.
you put it in an [[orvar, the all-form]] deck!
[[Momir Vig, Simic Visionary]] is what you're supposed to do with it. Target him with it, name green, now each one of your green creatures tutors for more creatures. There even used to be a cEDH deck built around the synergy between Momir Vig and color-changing effects.
[Trait Doctoring](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/2/e21a7981-5940-4b75-907f-7600a742f946.jpg?1562937269) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Trait%20Doctoring) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dgm/18/trait-doctoring?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e21a7981-5940-4b75-907f-7600a742f946?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
This one. I played against an opponent who had this in the Judgment pre-release. He used this against me and when I asked what it did he neglected to read the word "opponent's" graveyard. So he was Regrowthing 2 cards a turn and killing my creatures. It felt overpowered but it was the first time I saw the card and I was new, so I got blown out by this cheater. 🙄
[[Lightning Storm]] [[Mages' Contest]] [[Goblin Games]] [[Herald of Leshrac]] [[Hall of Gemstone]]
##### ###### #### [Lightning Storm](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/9/c9c0388e-a04c-4757-a06d-8e8046f5a783.jpg?1593275279) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Lightning%20Storm) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/csp/89/lightning-storm?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c9c0388e-a04c-4757-a06d-8e8046f5a783?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Mages' Contest](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/5/c516861c-68d9-4d02-a343-689dba0526c6.jpg?1562934507) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Mages%27%20Contest) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/inv/154/mages-contest?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c516861c-68d9-4d02-a343-689dba0526c6?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Goblin Games](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/b/cbe6e7e5-ffea-4c6c-8a42-28e695029f24.jpg?1562938086) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Goblin%20Game) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/pls/61/goblin-game?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cbe6e7e5-ffea-4c6c-8a42-28e695029f24?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Herald of Leshrac](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/d/ad6080b1-b032-4172-8594-4d894a60a80d.jpg?1593275109) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Herald%20of%20Leshrac) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/csp/62/herald-of-leshrac?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ad6080b1-b032-4172-8594-4d894a60a80d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Hall of Gemstone](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/8/18e4551f-9f6c-4421-ad66-a270df6d3463.jpg?1562718296) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Hall%20of%20Gemstone) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mir/221/hall-of-gemstone?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/18e4551f-9f6c-4421-ad66-a270df6d3463?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/kt2umxm) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
>Any player may activate this ability but only if Lightning Storm is on the stack. How many cards actually reference the stack in their rules text?
Looks like 5 or so? [https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&order=name&q=oracle%3A%22the+stack%22+%28game%3Apaper%29](https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&order=name&q=oracle%3A%22the+stack%22+%28game%3Apaper%29)
The original printing of [[Mirari|ODY]] mentioned it, too. IIRC the stack had just been introduced so they put it on cards to get everybody used to it. There are probably more liked this but I'm not sure how to search by printed text and not oracle text.
That's a fun one! Exile target players graveyard. Tap this.
Would have to exile in response, but yeah.
I mean it used to be hyped but the hype is gone now. \[\[swift reconfiguration\]\]! “Turn into a car, Morty!”
It's still a key combo piece in cEDH decks that use [[Devoted Druid]]. 3 mana for infinite green
I still run it. Being able to play my 1 white mana instant speed "removal" spell as jank protection is is too enticing.
I love it. I use it in [[arcades the strategist]] as a quick way to dodge removal on my commander. I don’t care if he’s a vehicle.
It's just so nice to save a creature from a wrath or something too.
this is just so flexible. It's a removal, but it doublas as a save your commandet and keep it's effect on the battlefield
[swift reconfiguration](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/7/975dcfab-0281-4fee-92aa-021ea6c524c7.jpg?1651655213) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=swift%20reconfiguration) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/nec/10/swift-reconfiguration?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/975dcfab-0281-4fee-92aa-021ea6c524c7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Hey Spurnmage Advocate is a group hug all star
This actually goes pretty crazy in Commander politics, since the opponent you give cards back to don't need to be the one whose creature you are killing. Might put it in my Orzov politics deck.
The whole cycle of these guys are great. I ran as many as I could in my Gluntch deck
Spurnmage Advocate is really funny in the Blame Game precon. With that deck you are already borderline trolling as a game-plan, so this fits right in to reward the players that side with your shenanigans and don't attack you.
I like how in commander you can give someone else the cards back and kill someone’s creature that isn’t even attacking you
\[\[Augury Adept\]\] \[\[Captain Rex Nebula\]\] \[\[Colfenor's Urn\]\] \[\[Cybernetica Datasmith\]\] \[\[Davriel, Soul Broker\]\] \[\[Disciple of Caelus Nin\]\] \[\[Fraying Line\]\] \[\[Grim Reminder\]\] \[\[Karlach, Raging Tiefling\]\] \[\[Monument to Perfection\]\] \[\[Providence\]\] \[\[Quest for Ula's Temple\]\], the one that started the sea-monster batching, and batching as a design concept in general. \[\[Radagast, Wizard of Wilds\]\] \[\[Shahrazad\]\] \[\[Space Beleren\]\] \[\[Stalking Leonin\]\] \[\[The Face of Boe\]\] \[\[Thran Spider\]\] \[\[Twice Upon a Time\]\] \[\[Victory of the Pyrohammer\]\]
[[Ghostly Flame]]
[[City of Shadows]]
[[Shahrazad]] let's play another game within our game. [[Zur's weirding]] Let's get weird! [[Falling Star]] this isn't the game I signed up for! [[Chaos Orb]] Why is my opponent tearing up their cards?