He's great in Affinity... if you can cast him. Most Affinity decks seem to stick to mono-red at the moment, but I've seen some lists with him in it. It's yet another must-answer threat in that deck.
4 of in Tezz Affinity, which I believe is the best version between MoE, Tezzeret, Thoughtcast, etc. The reach provided by making all your dudes hit that much harder is insane. Plus, you're generally going to have 4-5 other artifacts on board at least, so you're probably looking at a 6/6 to 7/7 with the global pump effect tacked on.
Rating: If you're playing Affinity: 4.5/5 - it's extremely hard to justify not playing him in this deck.
If you're not playing Affinity: 0/5 - Why would you be considering him?
EDIT: As strange as it sounds, I probably would give this the nod over Ravager in the absence of the colored artifact lands.
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Love him in almost any Affinity build that can get the blue mana reliably. Simultaneously a Plating on his own, and he makes a swarm a threat.
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UUU Talrand, Sky Summoner // (W/U)(W/U)(W/U) Grand Arbiter Augustin IV // RRR Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker // (R/G)(R/G)(R/G) Wort, the Raidmother // URG Riku of Two Reflections // RWU Ruhan of the Fomori
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MoE's still worse than Plating because Plating (I mean Plating carriers) doesn't get chump-blocked that often and is cheaper. Oh well, at least the toughness boost actually matters in this format and the power boost helps.
MoE's still worse than Plating because Plating (I mean Plating carriers) doesn't get chump-blocked that often and is cheaper. Oh well, at least the toughness boost actually matters in this format and the power boost helps.
True. I'd typically rather have a plating over this guy, but he's still inevitably good.
Imo, he's the blue version of tarmogoyf. Paying 3 for a massive beat stick that also serves as a lord for artifacts is the epitome of efficiency. If you're playing affinity in modern without this guy, you're doing it wrong.
Despite he's very rarely played in Modern, I think he should be played in those USA Affinity decks, I think they're calling them Robots. I mean, he's an artifact lord that has Cranial Plating equipped already, he doesn't seem bad. He can easily fit in the deck, and I personally think he'd be better than the Ravager.
Steelshaper's Gift vs MoE: Gift (Plating) can be equipped on to other evasive creatures; MoE gives a lord boost.
Steel Overseer vs MoE: Overseer can pump multiple times, and the boosts don't go away when it dies. MoE pumps on the turn it ETBs.
Etched Champion vs MoE: Champ is smaller but avoids removal and is evasive.
Here are some numbers from winning lists:
Melissa DeTora (PTQ): 0 MoE, 2 Steelshaper's Gift, 4 Etched Champion, 1 Steel Overseer
Mary Jacobson (GP Lincoln): 0 MoE, 0 Steelshaper's Gift, 4 Etched Champion, 4 Steel Overseer
Jacob Maynard (GP Columbus): 0 MoE, 2 Steelshaper's Gift, 4 Etched Champion, 1 Steel Overseer
Seems like the consensus is 0 Masters, max Etched Champions for evasive beatings (no matter how big Master is, it can be chump/gang blocked), and 3-4 slots go to power boosters.
He sees play in Tezzafinity which likes big bodies on the ground to protect Tez for a turn.
In the pump department I actually like him over Steel Overseer since sometimes people miss his +1/+1 on Signal Pest and Orinthopter. The big advantage of Overseer is that he can do more than +1/+1 if left alone, and he comes down a turn earlier.
Steel Overseer was actually a meh card to which I think DotP actually opened peoples eyes.
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Master of Etherium
Original Printing: Shards of Alara
Modern Legal Set: Shards of Alara
BGStandard Green AggroGB
UWRGModern Saheeli CobraGRWU
UBRGLegacy StormGRBU
Wizards Certified Rules Advisor
Rating: If you're playing Affinity: 4.5/5 - it's extremely hard to justify not playing him in this deck.
If you're not playing Affinity: 0/5 - Why would you be considering him?
EDIT: As strange as it sounds, I probably would give this the nod over Ravager in the absence of the colored artifact lands.
Went to a new shop from a friend's recommendation, DQ'ed for willful violation of CR 100.6b.
Have played duals? I have PucaPoints for them!
(Credit to DarkNightCavalier)
$tandard: Too poor.
Modern:
- GW Birthing Pod(?)
Legacy:
- UWR Delver
True. I'd typically rather have a plating over this guy, but he's still inevitably good.
Imo, he's the blue version of tarmogoyf. Paying 3 for a massive beat stick that also serves as a lord for artifacts is the epitome of efficiency. If you're playing affinity in modern without this guy, you're doing it wrong.
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Legacy ANT Primer
L1 Judge
Grixis Death's Shadow, Jund, UW Tron, Jeskai Control, Storm, Counters Company, Eldrazi Tron, Affinity, Living End, Infect, Merfolk, Dredge, Ad Nauseam, Amulet, Bogles, Eldrazi Tron, Mono U Tron, Lantern, Mardu Pyromancer
Steelshaper's Gift vs MoE: Gift (Plating) can be equipped on to other evasive creatures; MoE gives a lord boost.
Steel Overseer vs MoE: Overseer can pump multiple times, and the boosts don't go away when it dies. MoE pumps on the turn it ETBs.
Etched Champion vs MoE: Champ is smaller but avoids removal and is evasive.
Here are some numbers from winning lists:
Melissa DeTora (PTQ): 0 MoE, 2 Steelshaper's Gift, 4 Etched Champion, 1 Steel Overseer
Mary Jacobson (GP Lincoln): 0 MoE, 0 Steelshaper's Gift, 4 Etched Champion, 4 Steel Overseer
Jacob Maynard (GP Columbus): 0 MoE, 2 Steelshaper's Gift, 4 Etched Champion, 1 Steel Overseer
Seems like the consensus is 0 Masters, max Etched Champions for evasive beatings (no matter how big Master is, it can be chump/gang blocked), and 3-4 slots go to power boosters.
| Ad Nauseam
| Infect
Big Johnny.
In the pump department I actually like him over Steel Overseer since sometimes people miss his +1/+1 on Signal Pest and Orinthopter. The big advantage of Overseer is that he can do more than +1/+1 if left alone, and he comes down a turn earlier.
Steel Overseer was actually a meh card to which I think DotP actually opened peoples eyes.