MTGCast #128: Pucas, Presidents and Pro Tours

[pitimp]

This thread is for the discussion of my latest article, MTGCast #128: Pucas, Presidents and Pro Tours. We would be grateful if you would let us know what you think, but please keep your comments on topic.

[Team-Hero]

Here is my entry:



My inspiration was basically what I would like from a B/G Planeswalker. I designed Nissa Revane to be good in the early, mid, and late game. All though it might not seem like it at first glance, all the abilities have synergy with each other.

Ability 1: I don't like to play against decks who use too many nonbasic lands. I find that the colors green and black punish those who do play nonbasic lands. I developed the first ability to work much like Sarkhan Vol and Ajani Vengeant in a sense that it does not have to do something in order for the Planeswalker to get the +1.

Ability 2: I feel that B/G decks, most of the time, tend to play some form of quasi aggro/control. I developed the second ability to give just that. Not allowing the opponent to get situated with a stable hand while at the same time adding some pressure in a form of life loss. Two things to consider. One, the ability does not target. Two, opponents lose life even when they have an empty hand. The reason why I chose the ability to be 'random' and 'nonland' is because, in theory due to the first ability, the opponent will stop playing his nonbasic lands in order to prevent further damage from the first ability. The 'random' and 'nonland' clause adds a bit of spice to the opponent's decision making. Should he play his/her lands in risk of losing valuable cards in his hand? Should he/she play his/her nonbasics or take the chanse that they won't get chosen? I think it's pretty neat.

Ability 3: Most Planeswalkers have a way in defending themselves. What better way for B/G Nissa to do this than board sweeping. B/G together is known for having powerful removal spells. I chose her to have 3 in loyalty in order for players not to abuse this ability. Here's a chart:

To destroy Tarmogoyf:
Pernicious Deed: 5 mana
Crime/Punishment: 4 mana
Engineered Explosives: 4 mana
Nissa Revane: 4 mana, 2 loyalty (leaving her at 1 loyalty if played same turn)

To destroy Rakdos Pit Dragon
Pernicious Deed: 7 mana
Crime/Punishment: 6 mana
Engineered Explosives: 6 mana (four different colors!!!)
Nissa Revane: 4 mana, +1 turn, 4 loyalty (she can't if played the same turn)

Even though Nissa Revane can't get rid of a Rakdos Pit Dragon the same turn she comes into play, you can still do something against the opponent. The opponent either has some sort of nonbasic land in play by the time his Rakdos Pit Dragon is on the board. Or, if the Rakdos Pit Dragon has Hellbent, Nissa Revane can hit for 5 life guaranteed.

Sorry if I took the challange a little too far by explaning everything.


Another great show. Thank you for the guest speaker Tom. It was a nice change to have a different perspective.

[burek]

Team-Hero, I think the life-loss of her second ability is too powerful. Also, the wording is very confusing. Double negatives aren't good for the English language, even when removing the double negative would change the meaning.

Haven't had time to listen to the podcast yet, will as soon as I get home!

[WalkingPlanes]

even the first ability is broken. heres the closest non-broken thing i can imagine if your guess is correct;
+1 Nissa deals 1 damage to target creature or player
-2 Each player discards their hand. You gain 1 life for each card discarded this way.
-4 Mortivores ability on all creatures until end of turn.
I'm glad this article was made, this knowledge needs to be heard about nissa!

[Lorgalis]

Nissa Revane
Planeswalker - Nissa
+1: Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
+1: Return up to three target land cards from your graveyard to your hand.
-X: Destroy each artifact and creature with converted mana cost X.
[3]

Render!

Spoiler:

art by jflasher on www.deviantart.com

[Ober]

The Puca's mischief deck is going to be awesome. Another way to abuse Puca's mischief is with Auras.
You can make unfair trades by exchanging your aura for one of their creatures. You get a creature and they get control of an aura that continues to benefit your creature.

still working on my nissa

[Team-Hero]

Originally Posted by burek

Team-Hero, I think the life-loss of her second ability is too powerful. Also, the wording is very confusing. Double negatives aren't good for the English language, even when removing the double negative would change the meaning.

About the double negative: I tried everything I could to rewrite the ability in a way that would make better sense, but it just didn't work. (See Strongarm Tactics)

At first I really did believe that she was way too overpowered with the -5 life ability but, unless the player is running heavy discard, it actually doesn't cause life loss most of the time. She won't be using this ability every turn.

The ability that did concern me to be way too powerful was the first ability. In matches, she might not hit the opponent for anything, but in others, she can be dominating. Then again, I feel that I am the only loser that plays, or even knows, the card Primal Order. If it's easier to think about it, it would be like playing Karma on the opponent; substituting Swamps for Nonbasics.

I guess, if the opponent was running mostly basic lands and had some sort of hand awareness, then my design of Nissa would maybe not do any sort of damage. Keep in mind, I didn't give her a crazy auto-win ability like all the other Planeswalkers Wizards has printed.

[baldr7]

nissa revane
mythic rare
planeswalker-nissa
[+1]: target creature gains wither until end of turn
[-1]: destroy target creature with a counter on it
[-5]: all creatures you control gain persist and deathtouch until end of turn
3 starting loyalty
a little underpowered but still fun

[aquateenman100]

Hey guys, awesome webcast, as usual. Here's my entry... the last ability is crazy, but it's balanced by the five-turn build, assuming your opponent doesn't attack.
The art is from Louisiana-Limey from deviantart.

[anna.mossity]

Great show as usual, i was fairly surprised with how strong Elves turned out to be, i expected at least 3-4 Fae variants in the top 8 rather than Elves.

Well, here's what i have for Nissa. I think this could potentially be the offspring of Garruk and Liliana, which if that's the case she would be a major force to be reckoned with. Probably won't be though, but it an interesting plot to be had.

I went ahead and gave it the true planeswalker touch by letting her bust (ha ha, "bust") out of the frame. I also went ahead and made up the an Alara Reborn symbol, since thats the set many are speculating its from. I made up a second one, but i prefer this version both aethetically and mechanically.

[burek]

@baldr7: what would be her starting loyalty? Also, all her abilities seem very underpowered, I can't really imagine playing her.

@aquateenman100: her last ability is the same as Liliana's, so maybe you should try something a bit more unique?

Anyway, I listened to the podcast and enjoyed the guest speaker. Can't wait to have the trio back again, though!

edit - anna.mossity: I reall like your first Nissa! Her hair is a bit weird and I doubt you would ever ever ever cast her third ability, but the first two abilities are good. Maybe I'd give her just a bit of a power boost, though. 5 starting loyalty? Make her ultimate ability cost less?

[cmb_master]

Nissa Revane

Planeswalker - Nissa
[+1]: Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
[-X]: Search your library for a card with converted mana cost X or less and put it into your graveyard. Then shuffle your graveyard.
[-5]: Untap all lands you control and return all cards in your graveyard to your hand.
[3]

[Nicol Bolas]

I appreciate elf decks, but it was really depressing that the top 6 were basically the same deck, especially given that they were all combo.
If the top 6 were all blue control decks the playerbase would be calling for blue to be nerfed, but no one seems to care that this non-blue archetype dominated the tournament.

My planeswalker: Most planeswalkers are 4cc or higher and have some massive game-ending ability that people generally never get to use because it takes so long to get the loyalty high enough.
I want to see a planeswalker that is low-cc [and necessarily weaker, otherwise it would be broken], but still interesting and a worthwhile card in both constructed and
limited. Here is my attempt.

Nissa Revane
Planeswalker - Nissa
[+1] Creatures you control gain +1/-1 and deathtouch until end of turn.
[-2] Put target non-land permanent on top of its owner's library.
[-4] Each player sacrifices all creatures they control. Put a 0/2 black and green worm token into play for each creature sacrificed this way.
[2]

The first ability is a balanced way to pump your army, but makes it more vulnerable to your opponent at the same time. Pumping is a green ability, deathtouch is shared between black and green, and pumping power while lowering toughness is definitely a black ability.

The second ability is quite powerful, but Nissa needs to be able to do something the turn she comes into play that isn't going to be irrelevant if you don't have an army. It won't be very useful if your opponent only has lands in play, but it prevents her from turning into a permanent Plow Under.

The third ability really makes Nissa shine. While it is a Wrath of God for 2 mana, your opponent will be able to see it coming so it won't be too unbalanced. I thought that killing everything and getting a bunch of worms out of the deal (ie. the worms eat the corpses) was pretty flavourful.
Also, if you were wise enough to leave Nissa with a point of loyalty before you popped her 3rd ability, you'll be able to pump her loyalty by turning your 0/2 worms into 1/1 deathtouch worms. All of a sudden they don't look so harmless!
And if you manage to hold onto her after all of that (unlikely, but still), you can use her 3rd ability and now your worms replace themselves!

[Teflon_Jeff]

Originally Posted by anna.mossity

Great show as usual, i was fairly surprised with how strong Elves turned out to be, i expected at least 3-4 Fae variants in the top 8 rather than Elves.

Well, here's what i have for Nissa. I think this could potentially be the offspring of Garruk and Liliana, which if that's the case she would be a major force to be reckoned with. Probably won't be though, but it an interesting plot to be had.

I went ahead and gave it the true planeswalker touch by letting her bust (ha ha, "bust") out of the frame. I also went ahead and made up the an Alara Reborn symbol, since thats the set many are speculating its from. I made up a second one, but i prefer this version both aethetically and mechanically.

Your Second Nissa is too powerful. Her second ability basically goes infinite with Mogg Fanatic. A two card infinite combo? Doubtful. I really like the primary one you made, however.

As for the PT, this is why Top should come back. It regulated combos like this.

[anna.mossity]

Thats the main reason i stuck with the first Nissa i made. I think she's well balanced and the abilities make sense in the colors. Her last ability is a LOT better than it seems, since you get to hunt down any three creatures from the deck then return them plus any other dead buddies from the 'yard to play. Hunt down some token makers and watch the carnage