[CON] Dr. Jeebus's set review

[Dr. Jeebus]

So I've been doing set reviews for a few years now, starting with Morningtide. It's something I enjoy doing, but unfortunately the reviews are now too long to fit in a single post, and having the review split between multiple posts is disjointing and makes discussion rather difficult. What I've done instead this time around is hosted the review on my blog so that you can read the entire article, and then reply here. There's also a link at the end of the article to this thread in case you get lost, so don't worry. I hope this method of posting my review was alright as I've done several on the rumour mill before and I know a lot of people (Well at least a couple dozen, lol) enjoy reading it. So without futher ado, my Conflux set review and card evaluations!

[Flatulence Incarnate]

I really like that you're thorough and seem to examine the cards from all possible perspectives, constructed, limited, casual and even multiplayer. I wish I had something more substantive to say, other than that it was a very interesting read.

[Phaethon]

Aerie mystics was incorrectly spoiled, you don't need to tap it to play the shroud ability. I disagree with a number of your evaluations, put you obviously put a lot of effort into this review, and that's appreciated.

[Seth Dracovitch]

Good review Jeebus, glad you went all over the place with it instead of "just constructed" like so many do.

[Machius]

A very thorough review, well written and analysed.

I only have differing feelings on a few cards.

The basic landcycling cycle. Yes the main effect is overpriced however I think your underrating color fixing in limited, 3 color shard decks with a splash for a 4th are already relatively common and with the domain and 5 color activation/cost theme of conflux they'll only increase. So early game they'll fetch one of your probable 2 splash colors and slightly filter your deck and then in the late game when you have enough mana the cost won't matter and the effects will still be solid.

Nacatl Savage- I'm not sure that a bear with a sometimes relivant ability could ever be termed as only a borderline limited sideboard card, after all shards has proven to be a bear heavy format and alot of G/x cheap aggro limited decks could do worse than run this.

Shard Convergeance- Again I think your underrating color fixing in this format, not to mention the power of filtering 4 lands out of a 40 card limited deck, basically if you play this you'll have all your colors, a guaranteed land drop for the next 4 turns(up to a total of at least 8 mana) and a much higher probability of drawing gas for the rest of the game. I can't imagine not running it in any g/x limited deck and while I wouldn't draft it higher than any of the good creatures or removal I would be happy to pick this as early as 5th or even 4th in a draft.

Exploding Borders- This is a Rampant Growth which with a cost only higher will deal your opponent at least 3 damage to as much as 5 damage(a Lava Axe worth). Again the mana fixing and acceleration is nice(from 4-6 when 6cc has alot of relivent drops) but as Blightning has shown the addition of extra damage onto a spell can push it from being limited borderline to limited gold. Aggro decks in limited don't want to waste turns on spells which don't help speed the damage race, but this like blightning lets an aggro player use a good effect and do some nice damage at the same time.

A not inconceivable game with Exploding Borders could be something like, 1st turn forest Wild Nacatl, 2nd turn mountain Rip-Clan Crasher attack for 4, 3rd turn Plains Wooly Thoctar or Matca Rioters attack for 5(total 9), 4th turn Island Exploding Borders searching for a swamp dealing 5(total 14) attack for 10(total 24) and if that's not enough the next turn you can play land and follow with a 6 drop like Bull Cerodon.

Of course that's just a limited godhand, but it's not inconceivable, and even 1st turn land, 2nd turn land bear, 3rd turn land 3 drop attack for 2, 4th turn land expoding borders dealing 3-4 damage attack for 5, 5th turn 6 drop of choice. Would be a very solid aggro start.

Kaleidostone- It's not just about the costs(although using it to play them is nice), the cantrip is always good but where it really shines is in its color fixing giving your all 3 of your shard colors if your missing one and giving you access to either splash color. It's not brilliant but I'd be happy to play it in sealed and happy to mid-late pick and play it in draft.

[Dr. Jeebus]

Thanks for the positive feedback so far! Considering the fact that most of these cards aren't going to be used in standard constructed (and that the set has a very casual/multiplayer feel), I wouldn't be doing the set justice if I only examined it from a standard constructed viewpoint.

#edit: Machius, you're probably right about me underestimating the value of those basic landcycling spells, and especially Shard Convergeance. As for Exploding Borders, Blightning has shown as that tacking damage onto something can make it good, but discarding 2 was already established at 3 mana (Mind Rot et al), whereas Rampant Growth was established at 2 mana. Blightning provided an additional effect for (essentially) no addition, where Exploding Borders is twice as expensive. I suppose if I look at it as a Lightning Axe that accels that's a better way to examine the card.

[Chieftx]

Thanks for writing this. I enjoyed it very much.

[Dr. Jeebus]

Well you're welcome! I would certainly love more feedback from other people, however!

[Syphon]

Jeebs, here's a more aesthetic remark:
Try to make it so that you don't have to scroll to the side.
I'm really going to try and read your opinion, but if I have to sidescroll to see it properly, it gets really annoying.

Other than that, good effort.

[Dr. Jeebus]

I haven't had to sidescroll on any computer to read it properly, so I'm not sure why you have to.

#edit: After writing it in another thread, I have added my top 10 limited removal spells of Conflux to the review.

[Dr. Jeebus]

Siesmic Assault requires triple red to cast, and that combo only works in a deck full of basic land. If that's what you're running, I don't like your odds of hitting Seismic Assault.

[panos:)]

I think you underestimate thornling a lot, since ramp decks(naya-jund) is probably a good home for it and good decks overall. Thornling is a powerful creature and will see play, but dont expect something amazing. I find weird that you didnt include it in top 10 rares. Apart from that your review is really good, you have done a great job.

[Dr. Jeebus]

Well everything I would consider to be a top 10 rare is already in one of the lists, so it would be really redundant, unless you meant top 10 non-mythic rares. Glad for the input though and time will tell with Thornling, but I really don't expect much from Thornling until Lorwyn's gone.

[Palpable]

Yeah, very good set review. You really look at the cards from every angle.

I pretty much agree with you on everything except the basic landcyclers. I think they'll see heavy limited play and I liken them to the Ridge Rannet cycle, which are overcosted for what they are, but 80% of the time you're just cycling them. For the basic landcyclers, the cycling is arguably better (finding the second or third land you need is very important for any deck in this block, not just domain decks) but the cards themselves are more overcosted. I think it's about a wash. Not high picks but I think they'll go mid-pack in draft unless the format proves to have too much fixing.

[campino]

Originally Posted by Machius

A not inconceivable game with Exploding Borders could be something like, 1st turn forest Wild Nacatl, 2nd turn mountain Rip-Clan Crasher attack for 4, 3rd turn Plains Wooly Thoctar or Matca Rioters attack for 5(total 9), 4th turn Island Exploding Borders searching for a swamp dealing 5(total 14) attack for 10(total 24) and if that's not enough the next turn you can play land and follow with a 6 drop like Bull Cerodon.

If someone ever pulls that off against me, I'm going to take one of his fingers. (Hooch is seriously crazy)

But really, in the game, Borders is not needed to win. The card is playable in 5c just for the land-search, but it's not something to get excited about. I don't see playing it in (good) aggro-decks, as they really shouldn't be playing more than three colors.