New Essentials

[TheAbe]

I'm writing my article now. I'll have the new essentials for you later today I suspect.

[kerbythepurplecow]

Memory Plunder!
That's the only one that screamed out for inclusion.

[kerbythepurplecow]

Other possibilities:

Twilight Shepherd - wrath proof, but lots of white.
Beseech the Queen - not nearly as good as current tutors
Prismatic Omen - is not Joiner Adept
Thoughtweft Gambit is a neat trick
Sygg, River Cutthroat - may be worth it, near guaranteed cards
Cauldron of Souls - wrath dodge

That's it. Not much else worth discussion.

[TheAbe]

Here's my list, and no Memory Plunder does not make the cut (too expensive).

New Essentials

These are cards I have earmarked as new Essential cards for multiplayer.

Knollspine Dragon ? Very strong, powerful, seven power for seven mana, plus a great CIP ability.

Prismatic Omen ? Very powerful, sort all of your color issues.

Raking Canopy ? As far as enchantments go, this is the reverse Moat for all but the most powerful of flyers.

Beseech the Queen ? Tutors are powerful, and this is very castable. The cards you want to get are usually pretty cheap, like Swords to Plowshares, Skullclamp and so forth.

Cauldron of Souls ? Stops all Wraths from killing your creatures for a turn.

[TheAbe]

Knollspine Dragon is the strongest card in teh set for Essentials.

[TheAbe]

In fact, here you go:

Knollspine Dragon is the best flying Red creature ever printed for multiplayer. Period.

[kerbythepurplecow]

I will give you that the dragon has a strong ability. However you need to slap somebody to really make that ability sing. Otherwise he's just another large red flier. Of the current red flier, Akroma the red has morph and Avatar of Fury can come down on the cheap. I could feasibly make an argument for or against including Knollspine Dragon over Fledgling Dragon. I think the Knollspire's amazing ability (although not always usable) will edge out the Fledg's cheap body.

Beseech the Queen is still not good.

Raking Canopy has potential.

No mention of Memory Plunder? At the multiplayer table, that is goods. Instant, a use your swords. 4 mana wrath? There will nearly always be something in someone's graveyard to help you out. In fact, I bet the time held in hand factor (for maximum utilization) will be much lower on this than the Knollspire.

[TheAbe]

There's always someone open for a hit with a Serra Angel type creature that you have out. Then drop four 7/5 red flyer for 7 mana, and you have the option to discard your hand and draw four. It's even a may effect. You can play into it.


My issue with the Mental card is its man acost, not is usefulness.

[TheAbe]

Why would you hold onto the dragon? It's a 7/5 flyer, for just seven mana. Just play it. If you get the self mini-Wheel, great, if not, who cares? You have a 7 power flyer out.

Imagine you have Kirtar out. Your opponent has Avatar of Fury and Akroma out. Normally, they ould swing with them both, you'd block one, and kill the other (probably the Akroma althoughthat is not automatic, based on howmuch Red mana they have available). Now you have out the Canopy. They swing. Block the Avatar, damge on stakc, kil Akroma. Both die, because the Avatr took four from the Canopy.

Eesha + Canopy can kill Akroma sized threats on down. So can Silklash + canopy.

<font color="#C0C0C0"><font size="1">[ April 22, 2008 05:17 PM: Message edited by: TheAbe ]</font></font>

<font color="#C0C0C0" size="1">[ April 22, 2008 05:18 PM: Message edited by: TheAbe ]</font>

[kerbythepurplecow]

Of course you'd hold it! There's plenty of large creatures, but his ability is what makes him really good. You want to get the best you can out of him. I don't want to drop him without using his ability.

I'll probably look for a place for Raking Canopy, you've sold me on it.

As for the cost of Memory Plunder... it's only 4 colored mana. It need not be all blue or all black. The essentials should have no problem producing UUBB or something along those lines.