[ALA] Esper Battlemage

[pandafarmer]

Something just popped up in my inbox! I guess all these years of has finally rumor mongering paid off! As per the flavor of the season, I've been instructed to give you all a puzzle. Sorry riddle haters, and sorry if I'm not as clever as our friends on Team Zest!

This mage travels to battle wearing metal not like those in other planes. His good side tells him to protect his master two insults with a tap of his wand, yet his dark side tells him to use his wand to weaken the minions of other masters for half. If running into the fight without his wand, he can strike with the might of his brothers from other planes. The fee for this mage can be paid where the streets have no name.

Good luck!

[JmK]

Streets have no name..
U(2) I think.

Suspect this is the Esper Battlemage, given the mention of wearing metal and the cc.

almost certainly:
Esper Battlemage
Artifact wizard
2/2
guesswork from here on.
For half... possibly -1/-2? That's pretty powerful, though. I'd be shocked.

Two insults? prevent two damage that would be dealt to you.... very white... I'm not entirely sure though.

[Sabett]

Wow I really like this riddle, that was really clever about U2.

[madchemist]

esper battle mage U2

w, tap: prevent 2 damage
b, tap: target creature gets -1/-1 until EOT

2/2

[d4 necromancer]

Must be the battlemage, as you dictate a difference in the good and the bad.

, : Prevent the next 2 damage.
, : Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.

Quasi-nathed.

[JmK]

Original, with stupid mistake:
"That looks right... Except that -1/-1 isn't related to half."

Doh-induction seen below.

[niteowl]

Originally Posted by pandafarmer

Something just popped up in my inbox! I guess all these years of has finally rumor mongering paid off! As per the flavor of the season, I've been instructed to give you all a puzzle. Sorry riddle haters, and sorry if I'm not as clever as our friends on Team Zest!

This mage travels to battle wearing metal not like those in other planes. His good side tells him to protect his master two insults with a tap of his wand, yet his dark side tells him to use his wand to weaken the minions of other masters for half. If running into the fight without his wand, he can strike with the might of his brothers from other planes. The fee for this mage can be paid where the streets have no name.

Good luck!

hmmm

name
Esper battlemage - artifact creature
Cost U2 (where the streets have no name)

W tap: prevent two damage that would be dealt to you
B tap: Target creature's power is reduced by half

2/2


of course the wording would be different but that's my guess, am I close?

peace

[JmK]

Man, the U2 thing got solved fast and by a lot of people at once. I wonder if an unusually high percentage of Magickers like old U2?

[pandafarmer]

And here I was thinking I was an old fart and you youngin's wouldn't get that part about the streets...

MadChemist wins!

Esper Battlemage U(2)

Artifact Creature - Human Wizard

(W) Tap: Prevent the next 2 damage that would be dealt to you this turn.

(B): Tap: Target Creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.

2/2

Thanks Team Zesty!

[Sabett]

Originally Posted by JmK

Man, the U2 thing got solved fast and by a lot of people at once. I wonder if an unusually high percentage of Magickers like old U2?

I know I do.

[JmK]

One of my fave songs, actually. This card is probably my fave battlemage so far. The ability to outright kill many of the core components of mana-ramp every turn? Sure, it's not edict, but it's at least as good as dark blast in some decks.

Freaking naturalize is going to end up a 50 cent card at this rate even after all the reprints. Maybe that's why it's in the set. I think we're going to see a serious push towards booster draft and sealed deck as the primary tournament formats for Alara. Probably because those sell the most product.

[madchemist]

Good limited card. Both offensive and defensive. Tez can search for it. Naturalize is going to be a high pick in SSS draft.

[zkornz]

Originally Posted by JmK

That looks right... Except that -1/-1 isn't related to half.

He prevents two insults or weakens the enemy by half of that.
----

This is a nice battlemage for limited. But I don't like this cycle a lot.

[pandafarmer]

Good eye Zkornz! Yeah I definately prefer the Guidmages over these guys... but I'd pick her highly in draft!

[Pastamaster]

This card is pretty fantastic in limited. Repeatable -1/-1, Yes Please! Really helps screw with combat math, and it can take out little guys. Esper is looking like the shard for me!