Lelouch32
08-17-2010, 03:20 PM
M11 Addition: Artifacts
By: Corlando
Well a week has come and gone and I never managed to post that deck addition did I? For that I am very sorry, so in an effort to avoid the flaming barrages of the internet, here is a quick little add-on article.
Throughout my five M11 articles there is one set of cards that I regretfully left out due to the fact they really did not fit into one single color, the artifacts. M11 did introduce quite a few fun artifacts along with its tsunami of awesomeness, and unfortunately most of the artifacts were forgotten in the swell. In an effort to remedy this terrible crime it is time that we take a look.
Looking past the reprinted Angel’s Feather, Kraken Eye, and Demon’s Horn, etc. one of the cheaper artifacts that really got me thinking was Crystal Ball. Crystal Ball is a :mana2: artifact that after you pay :mana1: and tap it, you may scry two cards. This card is wonderful in any deck because it gives all decks the very blue power of deck alteration. Deck alteration is a term I use whenever I’m talking about an ability which allows you to arrange cards in your deck, puts cards on the top of your library, or just puts you in a position where you know exactly what card is coming next. Normally we see this mostly displayed in Blue through a number of cards like Halimar Depths or Sphinx of Jwar Isle, however we do see this power in action with cards like Diabolic Tudor and Liliana Vess. I often use deck alteration in my Blue Sphinx deck and trust me it helps a lot when you know exactly what card or cards are coming up. Now with Crystal Ball, a big mean Green deck has the ability to see the next two cards and decide whether or not it wants to draw them or if it wants to hope in the future by stashing one or two cards at the bottom of its library. I personally see Crystal Ball becoming very useful, maybe not tournament play, but I feel its power will definitely be felt in the casual field. I mean who doesn’t like the ability to see into the future.
Another fun artifact I like that was constructed by M11 was Steel Overseer. I see this guy becoming absolutely necessary when Scars of Mirrodin hits in just a few months, but let me back up and tell you what I like about this card. First off, Steel Overseer is only :mana2: meaning he can easily be put on the field at anytime in the game. Second I like the fact that he is a 1/1, keeps the card nice and fair especially when you take a look at its ability, which is the third reason I like it. “:symtap: Put a +1/+1 counter on each artifact creature you control.” This card is awesome because it can eventually make even a :mana0:, 0/2 Ornithopter one heck of a pain to deal with. Imagine this card out with maybe three Ornithopters and a Tezzert? “Why yes I’ll make all my artifact creatures 5/5 which become boosted by their +1/+1 counters making them flying 10/10s and you a very dead mage.” I will gladly say it again, I think Steel Overseer is going to become a must have, so get your play set as soon as you can.
The final artifact I want to point out, even though I really don’t have to, is Sword of Vengeance. Everyone and their grandma knows exactly how powerful and awesome this card is. Not only does it boost your creature by +2/+0, but it also gives it First Strike, Vigilance, Trample, and Haste, and does all that for only 6 total mana. The card is basically asking “Would you like to make a Baneslayer Angel… only better?” I’d say yes to that. And I know that every Magic player on the planet has probably thought about it already, but how cool of a combo is Sword of Vengeance and Phylactery Lich? An indestructible, First Striking, Vigilant, Trampling, Hasteful, 7/5 for just a few bits of mana? Yeah I think that is a pretty darn good deal. Granted you are one Naturalize away from destruction, depending on what artifact you put Phylactery Lich's counter on, but then again not every plan is perfect.
Well there you have it, my shortest article ever. Hope you enjoyed this little shot of Cardsn’Flux and I really hope to have that deck supplement up in just a few days… I’ve been a little busy. Anyway, just remember, “Etherium is Limited. Innovation is not.” This is Corlando signing out.
By: Corlando
Well a week has come and gone and I never managed to post that deck addition did I? For that I am very sorry, so in an effort to avoid the flaming barrages of the internet, here is a quick little add-on article.
Throughout my five M11 articles there is one set of cards that I regretfully left out due to the fact they really did not fit into one single color, the artifacts. M11 did introduce quite a few fun artifacts along with its tsunami of awesomeness, and unfortunately most of the artifacts were forgotten in the swell. In an effort to remedy this terrible crime it is time that we take a look.
Looking past the reprinted Angel’s Feather, Kraken Eye, and Demon’s Horn, etc. one of the cheaper artifacts that really got me thinking was Crystal Ball. Crystal Ball is a :mana2: artifact that after you pay :mana1: and tap it, you may scry two cards. This card is wonderful in any deck because it gives all decks the very blue power of deck alteration. Deck alteration is a term I use whenever I’m talking about an ability which allows you to arrange cards in your deck, puts cards on the top of your library, or just puts you in a position where you know exactly what card is coming next. Normally we see this mostly displayed in Blue through a number of cards like Halimar Depths or Sphinx of Jwar Isle, however we do see this power in action with cards like Diabolic Tudor and Liliana Vess. I often use deck alteration in my Blue Sphinx deck and trust me it helps a lot when you know exactly what card or cards are coming up. Now with Crystal Ball, a big mean Green deck has the ability to see the next two cards and decide whether or not it wants to draw them or if it wants to hope in the future by stashing one or two cards at the bottom of its library. I personally see Crystal Ball becoming very useful, maybe not tournament play, but I feel its power will definitely be felt in the casual field. I mean who doesn’t like the ability to see into the future.
Another fun artifact I like that was constructed by M11 was Steel Overseer. I see this guy becoming absolutely necessary when Scars of Mirrodin hits in just a few months, but let me back up and tell you what I like about this card. First off, Steel Overseer is only :mana2: meaning he can easily be put on the field at anytime in the game. Second I like the fact that he is a 1/1, keeps the card nice and fair especially when you take a look at its ability, which is the third reason I like it. “:symtap: Put a +1/+1 counter on each artifact creature you control.” This card is awesome because it can eventually make even a :mana0:, 0/2 Ornithopter one heck of a pain to deal with. Imagine this card out with maybe three Ornithopters and a Tezzert? “Why yes I’ll make all my artifact creatures 5/5 which become boosted by their +1/+1 counters making them flying 10/10s and you a very dead mage.” I will gladly say it again, I think Steel Overseer is going to become a must have, so get your play set as soon as you can.
The final artifact I want to point out, even though I really don’t have to, is Sword of Vengeance. Everyone and their grandma knows exactly how powerful and awesome this card is. Not only does it boost your creature by +2/+0, but it also gives it First Strike, Vigilance, Trample, and Haste, and does all that for only 6 total mana. The card is basically asking “Would you like to make a Baneslayer Angel… only better?” I’d say yes to that. And I know that every Magic player on the planet has probably thought about it already, but how cool of a combo is Sword of Vengeance and Phylactery Lich? An indestructible, First Striking, Vigilant, Trampling, Hasteful, 7/5 for just a few bits of mana? Yeah I think that is a pretty darn good deal. Granted you are one Naturalize away from destruction, depending on what artifact you put Phylactery Lich's counter on, but then again not every plan is perfect.
Well there you have it, my shortest article ever. Hope you enjoyed this little shot of Cardsn’Flux and I really hope to have that deck supplement up in just a few days… I’ve been a little busy. Anyway, just remember, “Etherium is Limited. Innovation is not.” This is Corlando signing out.