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Lelouch32

10-05-2010, 05:34 PM

The Metal Plane is Upon Us

By: Corlando

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, just as the title says this week we are celebrating the actual release of Scars of Mirrodin into standard. There have been cheers of glee and cries of anguish all over the world as people have battled it out for the first time with these great new cards. However, in all the hussle and bussle of a new set, some cards get forgotten, overlooked, cards that might not make it into standard, but make one hell of an addition to any well oiled, kitchen table deck. Today we’re going to bring these cards up and look at them for the gems they truly are. Let’s get started.

The first card that I definitely want to bring up is Goblin Gaveleer. I mostly want to bring this guy up because this little 1/1 for :manar: was the card that defeated me in two duels. Now you might look at this 1/1 and think why does a 1/1 have trample. This is because of its second ability which gives it +2/+0 for every equipment attached to it. How could we possibly abuse this? Well one idea is to just run a bunch of artifacts. Accomder’s Shield, Livewire Lash, heck even something as powerful as Argentum Armor is great though I think Argentum Armor might be a bit overkill. However, there is definitely one equipment from Scars that should definitely be used when playing with Goblin Gaveler, Bladed Pinions. Bladed Pinions is a :mana2: mana equipment that is :mana2: to equip and gives the equipped creature flying and first strike. That’s a pretty awesome package of power and evasion all in one box. Equipping this alone to Goblin Gaveleer gives you at least a 3/1 with first strike, Flying, and trample. He’s nearly a mini Baneslayer. Drop a few more equipments on this guy and he will tear stuff up. Trust me he’s the little goblin who can… smash for big damage.

Now some of you might be wondering why I brought Goblin Gaveleer up. What happened between me and this little guy that made me see his potential? Trust me when I say this guy can get annoying really fast. I lost to my opponent twice in my release party when he equipped a Grafted Exoskeleton to this little guy making him a 5/3 with infect. Needless to say I lost to poison in a deck that was running no other poison cards. However, Goblin Gaveleer was only part of the combo that sent me to the bottom of the rankings. The other half of the combo was another cheap spell called Assault Strobe. This one :manar: mana spell means every bit of its flavor text, “When breaking someone’s face once just isn’t enough.” Assault Strobe gives target creature double strike until the end of the turn. This my friends is borderline unfair when used in the right circumstances. Now even little guys like Runeclaw Bear and Kor Aeronaut can quickly turn into must deal with threats. Imagine even the deadly Kiln Fiend with this card. Ladies and Gentlemen I think it is time to Take Some Turns.

Turn 1: Start off with a mountain and maybe a cheap creature, Goblin Guide.
Turn 2: Play a second Mountain and Kiln Fiend or Goblin Tunneler.
Turn 3: Play a third Mountain, maybe, and play Kiln fiend or Goblin Tunneler, whichever one you did not play on turn 2.
Turn 4: Start by tapping Goblin Tunneler targeting Kiln Fiend. This will make Kiln Fiend unblockable until the end of the turn. Now play an instant or sorcery allowing Kiln Fiend’s ability to gain +3/+0 whenever you play a instant or sorcery to activate. Now play Assault Strobe to Boost Kiln Fiend even more and giving him double strike. Now Kiln Fiend should at least be a 7/2 maybe even 10/2 if you played a number of cheap spells. Now charge on in and deal 14 to 20 damage respectively with one 2 mana unblockable creature.

Lightning bolt already showed us what a single red mana could give us. Assault Strobe is just slowing Lightning Bolt’s lead.

Now there has been a bit of a discussion amongst my friends and I on the two main token producers of Scars of Mirrodin. Some of my friends like Mimic Vat while others prefer Prototype Portal. I of course, trying to be the sensible one and look at the positives of both cards, have been exiled from both camps till I decide to choose a side. So its time to find out which of the token producers is best. First we have Mimic Vat a :mana3: mana artifact that when a nontoken creature is put into a graveyard from play you may exile it to imprint it. Then if you pay :mana3: and tap Mimic Vat you may put a token on the field that is a copy of the imprinted card. The creature gains haste and is destroyed at the end of the turn. This is a pretty cool little card when you think about it. Your opponent has a Pelakka Wurm on the field and you Doom Blade it. Now you can exile it to Imprint and every single turn from then on you can summon a 7/7 for :mana3: mana and gain 7 life. Unfortunately you won’t get the card draw because the token is not sent to the graveyard. Mimic Vat is a real fun card I’ll admit that. It is perfect for practically any deck but I personally see it being in a blue deck just so you can steal the creature they would have played if you had not canceled it. Another bonus from this card is the fact that its summon cost is always :mana3: meaning that no matter the converted mana cost of the creature you will always be able to put down a token without having to worry about literally casting the creature again. The one problem with this card is that the token you create dies at the end of the turn. Granted that is understandable I mean who could possibly call it fair when you’ve imprinted a Pelakka Wurm and every turn you summon one to add to your growing army. All in all I call Mimic Vat a really fun card. Definitely worth looking out for and building a deck around, but I don’t see it making it into standard. It might but with so much possible ways to remove it... probably not.

Now to the other side of the battlefield. Prototype Portal is another fun rare token producer from Scars, but does it surpass Mimic Vat? Let’s find out. Prototype Portal is a :mana4: mana artifact whose imprinted card must be both an artifact and be exiled from your hand. These are both points for and against it. First the higher mana cost means that its slower than Mimic Vat by just a touch. Plus since the imprinted card comes from your hand, you are hurting your hand size and you are limited to what cards you can imprint. However, the other half of Prototype Portal has the potential to make up for it. Pay :manax: and tap the Portal to put a token on the field that is a copy of the imprinted card where :manax: is the converted mana cost of the imprinted card. Right there we have a limiter. Since you have to pay the mana cost of the creature every time you want to summon a token, you really have to hope that you have plenty of mana to really make Portal truly effective. I mean think about imprinting Chrome Steed. You have to have :mana4: extra mana each turn set aside to summon your steed. I don’t know about you but I don’t know many decks that can do that. However what happens if the converted mana cost is zero? Yes ladies and gentlemen it's time to imprint Memnite. This :mana0: 1/1 has no abilities but makes a fun first play if you get it in your opening hand. But what happens if you Imprint it on Prototype Portal? 2 words. Memnite Swarm! Yes, with the addition of 1 mana and a Voltaic Key, every turn you have the potential to summon as many Memnites as you have Voltaic Keys. Meaning you can slowly build up a small army of 1/1s before playing one or both of your end game cards, Tempered Steel or True Conviction. Tempered Steel is an :mana1::manaw::manaw: enchantment which gives all artifacts you control +2/+2. Or you could play True Conviction and double strike and lifelink your opponent into hopelessness. Its up to you what you choose to use but either end game card would be fun.

Alright so I’ve made my cases, I’ve looked at both cards and thought up strategies for both, but which is truly better, Prototype Portal or Mimic Vat? Well after some thinking, getting distracted by a dating sim, trying coffee for the first time, more thinking, a shower, being denied by a girl, more thinking, and playing a bit of Super Smash Brothers, I love that game, I have come to a decision. I do not like toast… wait wrong conclusion. In my opinion I have to say that I have to go on the Mimic Vat side. Why? Because it is just so much easier to abuse. As much as I would love to have my tokens stay forever, being able to summon them with haste and having access to my opponet’s own monsters is so much fun. Plus you’re one Voltaic Key away from putting two tokens on the field in one turn. Now its time to fill your heads with many fun ideas and ways to break Mimic Vat. Why not copy Roc Egg so that you get a 3/3 bird token at the end of every turn? Why not Avenger of Zendikar to continually gain an army of 0/1 tokens? What about going old school? I think I’ll choose Aethersnipe a 4/4 for :mana5::manau: that bounces a creature when it enters the battlefield. Yes I’ll send your Platnium Angel back to your hand then swing for 4. How about a Talus Paladin every turn to boost your allies to new heights and continual lifegain? Yes ladies and gentlemen I believe Mimic Vat is definitely going to be a fun card and I can’t wait to find ways to put more in my deck.

Well unfortunately I don’t have a deck of the week for you guys, but I do have the closing questions section.

1. What SOM card do you think is under appreciated?

2. What is your opinion of Argentum Armor? A really awesome equipment or too big too use?

3. What side of the Prototype Portal verse Mimic Vat debate are you on? Think of anything you might want to try with either of them?

Well everyone, Scars is out and fully being used and abused by all. Looks like I’ll have to go back to my usual method of article for a while. But what is this on the horizon? Phyerxia vs Mirrian Event towards the end of October? Maybe I spoke too soon. And always remember, “Etherium is Limited. Innovation is not.” This is Corlando signing out.

ATRiUS

10-05-2010, 06:13 PM

Unfortunately you won’t get the card draw because the token is not sent to the graveyard.

I thought tokens DO hit graveyards before they disappear... please correct me if I'm wrong.

thephanman

10-05-2010, 06:41 PM

1) theres acually a few cards i think are under appreciated: Semblance Anvil, Contagion Engine and Grafted Exoskeleton are under appreciated, -ramp up mana with myrs and everflowing chalices to get contagion engine quick and then double proliferate for intense amounts of mana in your cups and easily hard cast a bomb

-get lots o counters on Lux Cannon to blow away lands and anything else
oponents that have 3 poison counters on them lose after using engine

-you can also get your jace or venser's ultimate moves out on a single turn or have them heavy enough to survive any attacks

exoskeleton because if you equip it to a 3/3 or somthing and attack twice to win, or if you only get in one hit then you proliferate for a win

Semblance Anvil because you can make anything 2 less, instants, creatures (so myrs are pretty much free), planes walkers, artifacts, most things in this set are also colorless and dont forget it stacks too

2) i think Argentum Armor is like one of my favorite cards in this set

- its so awesome for it easy declare attack and remove any potential blockers or any other threat, you can even blow up emrakul and planes walkers, if you get it out quick enough you can slow down their mana, it also stacks so you can choose more than one thing if you get two out, it also makes your guy heavy so he wouldnt get killed too easily especially if you have Whispersilk Cloak on him

- since its so heavy you shouldnt have too many in your deck so you have to cheat it in with quest for the holy relic or use stone forge mystic search it out and then use her ability to set it on the board for 2 mana and then play kor outfitter to equip it to someone

3) i like prototype portal better since the stuff you make doesnt go away and your not limited to choose creatures in case your opponent doesnt use creatures, like that fact that you can swarm with Myr Galvanizer each one getting more powerful or any other artifact creature, you can also copy equipment to make some creature super powered like giving a creature 3 swords of body and mind or each creature with a basilisk collar, maybe try massing Semblance Anvil with a colorless deck and have anything come in free

a thing i dont like about prototype is that you can only choose one thing while mimic lets you change and use your opponents dead creatures like imagine if you where playing a mill deck and your opponent stuck a ledgendary eldrazi in there for anti-mill, you can exile if so they dont get their deck back and you can get a eldrazi on your side

whitey_mcfly

10-05-2010, 06:44 PM

Mercedes

10-05-2010, 07:33 PM

1. SoM hasn't been around long enough for me to judge most of the cards well. I, personally, LOVE Grindclock, but that cards not so much underappreciated as it is unlikely to see any serious tournament play. :)

2. In a ramp deck or any deck running the Mystic/Outfitter combo, Argentum Armor will be INSANE. Unfortunately, outside of those decks, the Armor is a bit too slow to be manageable. It can do a LOT of damage in the right deck, though.

3. I agree with your final decision: Mimic Vat is soooo much easier to abuse in any format. Yes, it's true, you don't get to keep what it copies, but it's also true that losing the Vat means you've only lost one card instead of two. ;D

Lelouch32

10-05-2010, 07:41 PM

@ATRiUS: Normally the Token would except Mimic Vat clearly states that the token is exiled meaning it never touches the graveyard.

Lelouch32

10-05-2010, 08:09 PM

SavajCabbaj

10-05-2010, 10:14 PM

In the Take Some Turns section, you brought up a really nice monored combo. However, just add blue to the mix and things end even faster.
Turn 1: Island/Mountain
Turn 2: Mountain, Kiln Fiend
Turn 3: Mountain/Island (whichever you didn't play first turn), Distortion Strike, Assault Strobe, and any burn spell. GG.

I was going to write the same thing earlier, but decided to delete my post when I became too long winded :P

Optimal Hand:
Turn 1: Mountain, Lightning Bolt (Opponent = 17 Life)
Turn 2: Island, Kiln Fiend
Turn 3: Assault Strobe, Distortion Strike, Kiln Fiend attacks (Opponent = 3 Life)
Turn 4: Distortion Strike rebounds, Kiln Fiend attacks (Opponent = Dead)

And it's not that unreasonable to conceive pulling off within the first five or six turns, either.

1) At any rate, I'm not sure if I could pass judgment on the set yet, as to which card is unfairly unappreciated. You (Lelouch) mentioned the only card to come to mind, Assault Strobe. It was all the rage at my prerelease, and then murmurs began to spread about how it's a sorcery (something most people seemed to have missed at first glance). That certainly does remove a lot of it's 'umph', as opposed to it being an instant.. but still, the potential for an unblockable 7/2 Kiln Fiend with doublestrike, or used on Goblin Gaveleer w/ Grafted Exoskeleton (which I fell in love with the moment I saw it, for exactly the reasons you mentioned above) just begs for it to be used.

Two other 1 CMC drops I suspect will be under-appreciated are Twisted Image and Vault Skyward. Twisted Image is at the very least, a cheap draw. But there are a tonne of crafty ways to take advantage of switching a creature's p/t. Vault Skyward was a great cheap card for the release party drafts, though it definitely won't see any tournament play and I suspect it'll be passed up for better cards in casual. But in limited, it opened quite a few options for me. To name the least obvious, in one round I had a few islands, no swamps, and a Leaden Myr in play, with a shiny Carnifex Demon just begging to be played (and save my arse). Vault Skyward turned into a one time mana fix, paying a U to untap my Leaden Myr for the BB cost of the Demon.

2) I definitely like Argentum Armor. It is heavy with a 6 cast 6 equip, yes.. but it is one of those cards that can turn a losing game around. Consider, every color has it's own flavor of removal, but there are times when an opponent gets the advantage, or worse a lockdown, with card types your color is not equipped to deal with. With the Armor, you'll be equipped to handle any mid-to-late game threat. While Kor decks might run it to gain the advantage, any color can include it to turn the tide.

3) My favorite of the two is Prototype Portal, but I believe Mimic Vat is the better of the two. Prototype Portal requires too many conditions. You a) need to pay the imprinted card's cmc to create a copy of it, and b) need to have a card in hand worth imprinting when the Portal is cast. The likelihood of both happening when you need it to happen aren't that great, whereas Mimic Vat is cheaper, easier to trigger, and will almost always be of some use. You can even use it to steal (copies of) an opponent's creatures!

However, having said that, I have high hopes of imprinting Panoptic Mirror onto a Prototype Portal and making good use of it.. as unlikely as that is to ever happen, just once do I want to have five or six Panoptic Mirrors running strong at the same time. Or, perhaps even better yet, Prototype Portal a Prototype Portal :D Now that would be awesome! :D Let's see Mimic Vat do that, eh!? Wait.. Mimic Vat + Mimic Vat + March of the Machines.. would that count?

SavajCabbaj

10-05-2010, 10:22 PM

@ Whitey_mcfly: The thing with Precursor Golem is that it is a one spell definite Metalcraft. So the best combo with Precusor golem is Indomitable Archangel followed by Precursor Golem. Golem gain shroud and if you have Tempered Steel suddenly you have 3 5/5s. That's what we like to call big damage!

Throw in a few more of those Tempered Steels, give your creatures doublestrike and life link, and add a few more token generators such as Myrsmith and Golem Foundry, and you have yourself a deck! I never thought to go white with those Precursor Golems.. I guess I was too stuck on the idea of going green for Asceticism to look beyond... I like it :)

Lelouch32

10-05-2010, 11:07 PM

That's what I'm here for Sava, for I am Corlando, the Mad Genius. If I get an idea in my head I won't stop until I find a way to make it work, find a way to think about it in a way no one else has, I break it, or I get bored. The last one doesn't happen often but it did happen with an idea for a standard merfolk deck. Oh well.

SavajCabbaj

10-05-2010, 11:12 PM

You say Merfolk, I say opponents. Either way they sleep with the fishes ;) **coughs**

Lelouch32

10-05-2010, 11:28 PM

*lols*

Ha, good one.

Tell me, any fun ideas come to you involving a Merfolk deck and Scars?

SavajCabbaj

10-06-2010, 12:22 AM

I'd have to think about that one. I developed a healthy respect for Merfolk after Merfolk Assassin and War Barge were reintroduced in Time Spiral, and even more-so in the Lorwyn block. But then quit playing (as I do every so often) by the time Alara cycled in, to be reintroduced by the time Rise was released. At that point I attempted to update my extended Merfolk deck, only to determine that the new Merfolk were best served as a theme for a Leveler deck.

So.. to devise a Merfolk deck.. that wasn't themed as anything else (ie. not explicitly a leveler deck, but a merfolk deck that may or may not have levelers in it) might not be a bad idea for a deck challenge ;) Those are always fun!

jiggs

10-06-2010, 05:03 AM

@Lelouch32 responding to ATRiUS: Normally the Token would except Mimic Vat clearly states that the token is exiled meaning it never touches the graveyard.

what if you get rid of the token during main phase? like sacrificing it or attacking it to your opponent w/ a big blocker? wouldn't it hit the graveyard and then disappear? so you would get to draw the card right? ; )

Lelouch32

10-06-2010, 05:26 AM

I suppose that would work. I guess Culling Dias is going to be quite a useful card isn't it.

Konfused_Kat

10-07-2010, 12:33 AM

1. What SOM card do you think is under appreciated?

Necrotic Ooze.. :mana2: :manab: :manab: 4/3 Rare. Decent enough in terms of power/toughness, but where he really shines is his ability. "As long as Necrotic Ooze is on the battlefield, it has all activated abilities of all creatures in all graveyards." While he could be decent in Type 2 Standard; he can really shine in Legacy where he can be used with Buried Alive so you can just keep feeding him great abilities. +1/+1 counters.. Regeneration... There are literally tons of possibilities for this very diverse creature.

2. What is your opinion of Argentum Armor? A really awesome equipment or too big too use? I don't use it, but in the right decks that card can be very dangerous and quickly kill off your opponents defenders and flyers. Imagine this equip on an Engulfing Slagwurm! Where's your Baneslayer Angel now?!?!

3. What side of the Prototype Portal verse Mimic Vat debate are you on? Think of anything you might want to try with either of them? I'm on the fence for both.. While Mimic Vat can be used on your opponents powerhouses for just :mana3:, Prototype Portal can be used for ANY artifact, and is generally more predictable because it uses cards from your hand to Imprint allowing you to put it to more effective use with the rest of your deck.

Safearus

10-07-2010, 04:45 AM

1. What SOM card do you think is under appreciated?
Neurok Invisimancer :mana1::manau::manau:

When it comes into play, your [insert name of random cool creature here] becomes unblockable until end of turn.

And a 2/1 unblockable is also very nice just to have. Throw equipment on him. He becomes a target quickly.

2. What is your opinion of Argentum Armor? A really awesome equipment or too big too use?
Don't get me wrong... :mana6: is expensive... but with a Stoneforge Mystic, Kor Outfitter, and a Kor Duelist... well, you get the idea. Even an Armament Master in there. Splash blue for a Neurok Invisimancer for some more fun?

3. What side of the Prototype Portal verse Mimic Vat debate are you on? Think of anything you might want to try with either of them?
Mimic Vat

Only one card to mention here. Stifle. No longer do you have to exile said token based on it's "special ability". Yay!

08merlin527

10-07-2010, 09:47 PM

So does profilerating double the counters on something?

Safearus

10-07-2010, 09:48 PM

So does profilerating double the counters on something?

No, it adds a single counter of the same type to a permanent.

Anon

10-08-2010, 08:09 AM

@ Lelouch32

I have been following your articles for quite some time, and though I no longer play the game, I find your words quite inspirational.

The one thing I've always noted when I used to play was that trying to keep in standard was very hard so I ended up just playing in extended format or even casual.

So I had this small challenge of showing my fellow gamers that extended was more interesting and allows for more creativity. It worked for a while but seeing with all the new cards coming out every year was taking its toll.

Now here is what wish to see you try, and anyone else who happens to read this, take what you think is the worst card in the new set and build an extended or casual deck around it. (the card must be the main focus of the deck)

You may think this is a childish task, as the cards are limitless, but sometimes it is even harder than you can imagine. For Etherium is not truely limited in extended, so long as your imagination is limitless you can go far.

This is Anon signing out... for now.

stevensenger

10-08-2010, 05:41 PM

A few things that I thought up, some of which have already been mentioned.

Combos:

Goblin Gavaleer with, Accorder's Shield, Pinion Blades, Darksteel Axe, etc...

Copperhorn Scout with any number of creatures which tap for mana.

Glint Hawk with Chimeric Mass. Put out the Chimeric Mass quickly, and bounce it later, when you have more mana, with the Glint Hawk:)

My favorite obvious combo: Two Carnifex Demons!!! You can alternate swapping counters back and forth between them to devastate as much toughness as you have black mana! Especially if you have some Chimeric Masses or Perilous Myrs out.

"Forgotten" Cards:

Contagion Clasp OWNED me in the pre-release. It's relatively fast, especially if someone has some nonland mana-gen.

Ezuri, Renegade Leader would be FANTASTIC in a Nissa deck.

Necrogen Scudder saved my tail a number of times in the pre-release, although it could be kinda deadweight if the game goes past ten turns or so.

In response to the big debate:

I'd personally go Mimic Vat. It's cheaper, and if your opponent wastes an instant on your token to save his or her butt, so much the better!

Lelouch32

10-08-2010, 06:37 PM

@ Anon:

I will be glad to take your challenge... in a few days. I'm in the middle of exams.

Also, You stole my catch phrase. *cries* I worked very hard to find it.

Anon

10-09-2010, 03:29 PM

In regards to the stealing of your catch phrase, I sincerely apologise.
I only meant to use it as an example to show the unlimited possibilites there are in this game if one doesn't limit themselves to just standard.

Lelouch32

10-09-2010, 10:24 PM

This is true.

By the way I was just kidding about the stealing of the catch phrase. :P

ATRiUS

10-10-2010, 04:54 PM

@ATRiUS: Normally the Token would except Mimic Vat clearly states that the token is exiled meaning it never touches the graveyard.

AH! correct you are. Maybe I'll read someday.

Drakedew

10-10-2010, 05:27 PM

pastahunter

10-10-2010, 09:05 PM

1. What SOM card do you think is under appreciated?
I think Myr Propagator is underappreciated... Using the infinite mana combo from your galvanizers (i think it's those?) and the new equipment that gives +1/+1 and haste, you technically have infinite 1/1 myr creature tokens that are copies of Myr Propagator.

2. What is your opinion of Argentum Armor? A really awesome equipment or too big too use?
Try Quest for the Holy Relic, or any other cards that you may find in a Kor Equipment deck... It is an awesome equipment in there. In other decks, you may find it'll suck for its cmc and equipment cost.

3. What side of the Prototype Portal verse Mimic Vat debate are you on? Think of anything you might want to try with either of them?
Mimic Vat is better. You could imprint any creature that leaves play onto it (even your opponent's creatures) and create a temporal copy for 3 mana. Even during your opponent's turn. So imagine your opponent attacking with 2 the same huge creatures. Doom blade one of them, then mimic the other and watch both the orininal and the copy die. And during the next turn, you're the one that gets to attack with that beefy creature. I love it.

pete_h

10-16-2010, 07:48 AM

1. What SOM card do you think is under appreciated?

I don't know what cards are the most under appreciated, but I do know that there are tons of cards in the set that need a certain deck to really work. So alot of the cards won't see too much play because they are so narrow. For instance, I love Inexorable Tide(spelling?), but there just aren't any good decks that can really abuse it, but it can be built around.
2. What is your opinion of Argentum Armor? A really awesome equipment or too big too use?
I think this card is another one of those cards I was talking about that belong in like 1 certain deck, so it won't see play. The card, I think, is pretty awesome, but because of the cost it will most likely be only seen in a Quest deck.
3. What side of the Prototype Portal verse Mimic Vat debate are you on? Think of anything you might want to try with either of them?
I'm on the Mimic Vat side. As you said, it is alot easier to abuse. The creatures you mentioned are good, but the problem is getting them to die. You either have to use one of your own spells to kill your own creature, or hope your opponent is nice enough to kill it. Obviously that isn't that big of deal. But here is what I was thinking with Mimic Vat: Skinrender... Play it, and have it target itself. Then from then on you have control of the board, unless they have an answer for the Vat. The thing I don't like about imprint, is that if they destroy the card it is usually a 2fer, but with the vat, the creature was dieing anyways, so you aren't out anything but an artifact. With the Portal, you have to remove a creature that you never got to play, so if they destroy it then you're out 2 cards instead of 1.

.......................

pete_h

10-16-2010, 07:56 AM

1) I think semblance anvil is an under appreciated card. It make almost all the myr in my myr deck :mana0: mana to cast. Combine that with a myr smith out and you are usually paying :mana1: mana for a two myr.

2) Argentum armor looks to be an extremely interesting equipment. Is it big? Yes, but it's worth it, especially if you have ways to cheat it out.

3) I hugely favor prototype portal because for the different ways you can abuse it. Take mindslaver for example. "Hey just so you know I'm going to take your turns for the rest of the game." Or what about a contagion engine? -1/-1 counters on their entire field each turn. Even the Argentum armor? Multiple copies on one badass creature. Or wurmcoil engine? 6/6 deathtouch lifelink that when you kill only creates tokens. Steel overseer? multiple +1/+1 counters each turn. It's devastating. That and prototype portal is any artifact while mimic vat is only creatures.

That's not a bad idea, and I would still use it with the Vat instead. Even though it says to remove it. What about this: Put a copy of Wurmcoil out- Attack with the token- beginning of 2 main phase sac the token to something like Viscera Seer. You just got to attack with a 6/6 beast, got 2 free 3/3 tokens that have deathtouch and lifelink, and you got to Scry 1 for just {3} mana... Sounds pretty good to me. There are so many ways to sac the token before it is removed, so that's just another way to abuse the Vat. It gives you things to sac...