[RTR] Isperia, Supreme Judge - Page 3

EnderKR · 09-03-2012, 11:33 AM

Unless there's some serious synergy with currently un-spoiled cards, Isperia is still just mediocre.

She's a 6 power flying legendary. She's clearly a finisher, and yet, she dies really easily. That's not altogether bad, because hey, Primeval Titan dies to Go For the Throat, but at least the Titan got you something, and it put the decision tree in your hands - you decide when to attack, what lands to get, etc, thus furthering your own game plan.

Isperia puts the decision tree in your opponent's hands: do I attack through his board, letting him draw cards that may/may not be useful right now? Do I have combat tricks to overwhelm his card draw? Do I have lethal on the board anyway? What if he draws into a Charm? etc. etc. etc.

As one part of a lock-out strategy, I can understand Isperia. With a sculpted hand and some untapped mana, she's pretty much awesome - if you can protect her, she forces your opponents to make bad plays in order to get around her. With cards to help out, that may be enough to win. But I'd rather just play something that gives me more options, and doesn't require quite as many resources to protect. It's not a BAD card, I just think there's bound to be a better finisher that hasn't been spoiled yet.

Drekavac · 09-03-2012, 11:34 AM

I think it is an interesting ability to say the least, if just a bit overpriced since it comes with a 6/4 flyer attached.

Unless something has gone horribly, horribly wrong, I don't think you want to tap out to play this creature. One reason for this is to have some sort of means of protecting her after she resolves, the other being that you will probably need mana to do anything meaningful with the extra cards you've just drawn, given that some of those might be removal, bounce spells or even miracle cards (Terminus, Temporal Mastery etc.).

In some decks I would be more then happy to pay 2 life on average for an extra card, most black mages would agree with me on this. Yes, the creature has to attack into it, but this also means that you just might draw something before the damage actually happens so you could get several extra cards at bargain rates, if the deck is constructed with that possibility in mind.

Dager · 09-03-2012, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnderKR

Unless there's some serious synergy with currently un-spoiled cards, Isperia is still just mediocre.

She's a 6 power flying legendary. She's clearly a finisher, and yet, she dies really easily. That's not altogether bad, because hey, Primeval Titan dies to Go For the Throat, but at least the Titan got you something, and it put the decision tree in your hands - you decide when to attack, what lands to get, etc, thus furthering your own game plan.

Isperia puts the decision tree in your opponent's hands: do I attack through his board, letting him draw cards that may/may not be useful right now? Do I have combat tricks to overwhelm his card draw? Do I have lethal on the board anyway? What if he draws into a Charm? etc. etc. etc.

As one part of a lock-out strategy, I can understand Isperia. With a sculpted hand and some untapped mana, she's pretty much awesome - if you can protect her, she forces your opponents to make bad plays in order to get around her. With cards to help out, that may be enough to win. But I'd rather just play something that gives me more options, and doesn't require quite as many resources to protect. It's not a BAD card, I just think there's bound to be a better finisher that hasn't been spoiled yet.

You also gotta think that alot of decks that focus on those to attack or not to attack questions are Red, Black, or some other combination of the 2 and we have already been spoiled 2 kill spells for those colors that eat this guy(girl?)alive. This card puts a control player's money where their mouth is. Play this on t6 with all of your 6 mana and odds are you just signed your death certificate.

Zhared · 09-03-2012, 11:46 AM

Other than the 4 toughness, I think this card is great in the current meta; we'll have to wait to see if it's good in the upcoming one, though.

zedruu · 09-03-2012, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denegaar

Like the Skyknight? ETB effect? would be nice, but people will complain about her dying to removal, the same way.

Yeah, Auger Spree. The new Dismbember... and now Planeswalkers die to Dreadbore!!!

well, i recall when even she's die to the sh**** Auger Spree was frustrating too...

even the smaller P/T Jarad got his own love for his synergistic with Scavenge and how every of his ability was pretty solid even if he die, i mean everyone was aggree he's proper for legendary Mythic guild Leader

pandafarmer · 09-03-2012, 04:10 PM

Honestly what bums me out most is that she's the leader of Azorious, and yet the card ability couldn't be more countering of their main mechanic... Awesome! Your guys can't attack! Which... also means I can't draw cards... *meh*

albino penguin · 09-03-2012, 04:19 PM

With the set spoiled as is, not impressive. It's going to be functionally a vanilla 6/4 flying beater much of the time. Which isn't what I was looking for in a legendary mythic guild leader.

You're opponent just isn't going to attack into a 6/4 if they've not got game on the board.

Yes, I'm sure there's going to be scenarios when the ability does trigger, but unless white we're Azorus is getting the ability to force attacks from somewhere, it wont be often enough to justify over other finishers.

italofoca · 09-03-2012, 04:53 PM

Shes only good with PWs. If you have PW on the table your opponents going to attack you like crazy to prevent a ultimate and you can try to use some spells to mitigate the damage while drawing cards.

The 6 power in a flying finisher is very meanful as it end the game in 3 turns or 4 turns, unlike conssacrated sphinx that ends the game only in 5 (her worst atribute). The low toughness is terrible because it is easy to get removed. And yes, control decks finishers should work around at least 50% of the vastly used removals. Control usually play 3~5 finishers, getting removed by random spells might simply deny your win condition or delay the game too much.

She also trades with 4 power creatures, stuff that normaly are dropped on turn 3~4 (and shes dropped on turn 6~7!). I dunno why they made her power level so insanely low. Niv-Mizzet has the better 5/5 body and draws you 3 or 4 cards at the end of each oponents turn, while burning him for 3 or 4. The difference between the cards are abysmal !

spandy · 09-03-2012, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pandafarmer

Honestly what bums me out most is that she's the leader of Azorious, and yet the card ability couldn't be more countering of their main mechanic... Awesome! Your guys can't attack! Which... also means I can't draw cards... *meh*

This does seem strange. Unless they go all-out with the "attacking me will suck" theme by reprinting either Ghostly Prison or Propaganda...which would be sick.

Irmis · 09-03-2012, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pandafarmer

Honestly what bums me out most is that she's the leader of Azorious, and yet the card ability couldn't be more countering of their main mechanic... Awesome! Your guys can't attack! Which... also means I can't draw cards... *meh*

You can stop their best/biggest/most dangerous creatures so you can safely draws card when they attack without getting overwhelmed.

italofoca · 09-03-2012, 05:09 PM

Rethinking her:

1. PWs are already reason enough to make your opponents attack you. And PW and finishers work very well together (Frost/Sun/Grave Titan and Jaces did).
2. This is not the kind of creature you play on the typical WU permission-DoJ decks. It's obviously a weak card when the deck you play keeps your oponent's table clean as primary defensive tatic. Isperia is for decks who play a bunch of Defender creature and maintain a good combat defense. The only way your opponent can damage you is by attacking with multiple creatures and hope one of then "leaks". Isperias thrive on that, drawing you a ridicolous amount of cards. Unfortunely that kind of deck never played outside of kitchen tables ! ='(

Vaclav · 09-03-2012, 05:14 PM

Considering what Azorius colors got the first time around and the push towards swarm and single target stuff that the current guilds present, she's looking like she'll be superb against the Populate decks if they take off, while Detain will not be.

Look at the guilds right now, some she'll be great against and some she will not - but most of those that she'll not be so hot against, detain is good against:
Selesnya - Tokens out the wazzoo theme, as well as some indestructibility and occasionally monsterously huge dudes. Detain is generally going to be worse than real removal and weenie answers - she'll be huge on the other hand.
Rakdos - No blockers, must constantly attack if we choose the Unleash for +1/+1 or else we've got a useless creature sitting on the sidelines. Again, good for her, not so good for detain since they should have constant creature pressure.
Golgari - Voltron'ing up a few biggies theme. Detain is king here. Their secondary option of swarming with saprolings she messes up nicely however JIC.
Izzet - Couple critters with lots of instant/sorcery support - bad for her, but great for detain again.

White/Blue historically is about restricting your opponents options - detain pushes them towards a swarm strategy, Isperia pushes them towards a single huge attacker strategy - leaving them in a difficult balance to evaluate.

Will she see play in Constructed? It's far too early to say for sure for anything, but just like Jace, I certainly wouldn't rule her out. Ravnica 1.0 Constructed was largely won on the backs of Guildmages and other critters that weren't particularly large - much like Jace - assuming RTR is as much like Ravnica 1.0 as it appears so far, her value will become apparent as more is spoiled.

Also note please that Detain doesn't have to be used on critters - in fact, for my testing of the mechanic against current stuff - I often see greater value in using it on NON-creature targets.

Also note, she doesn't have to be on defense for her ability to kick in, a few posts seem to imply that.

Aesnath · 09-03-2012, 05:18 PM

That effect would have been pretty scary on an enchantment or cheaper creature. As it is, I just don't see where it will fit. Control decks likely have better options and midrange wants better beaters.

hallodri · 09-03-2012, 06:21 PM

Gideon Jura likes her.

Blue_Oneironaut · 09-03-2012, 06:27 PM

I think she's pretty cool but the card advantage isn't necessarily going to happen. I'd like to think the current standard of Lots O Creatures could give her a chance, but I think we need to see RTR to even have the slightest idea what people are going to play. At any rate I don't like the 4 toughness.

09-03-2012, 11:33 AM	#31
EnderKR Wizard Mentor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Thornton, CO Posts: 704	Unless there's some serious synergy with currently un-spoiled cards, Isperia is still just mediocre. She's a 6 power flying legendary. She's clearly a finisher, and yet, she dies really easily. That's not altogether bad, because hey, Primeval Titan dies to Go For the Throat, but at least the Titan got you something, and it put the decision tree in your hands - you decide when to attack, what lands to get, etc, thus furthering your own game plan. Isperia puts the decision tree in your opponent's hands: do I attack through his board, letting him draw cards that may/may not be useful right now? Do I have combat tricks to overwhelm his card draw? Do I have lethal on the board anyway? What if he draws into a Charm? etc. etc. etc. As one part of a lock-out strategy, I can understand Isperia. With a sculpted hand and some untapped mana, she's pretty much awesome - if you can protect her, she forces your opponents to make bad plays in order to get around her. With cards to help out, that may be enough to win. But I'd rather just play something that gives me more options, and doesn't require quite as many resources to protect. It's not a BAD card, I just think there's bound to be a better finisher that hasn't been spoiled yet. __________________ I am petitioning for the removal of mythic rarity and boycotting overpriced singles. Sig this to join the cause for a more affordable Magic the Gathering.
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09-03-2012, 11:34 AM	#32
Drekavac Archmage Overlord Join Date: May 2006 Location: In a galaxy far, far away Posts: 1,398	I think it is an interesting ability to say the least, if just a bit overpriced since it comes with a 6/4 flyer attached. Unless something has gone horribly, horribly wrong, I don't think you want to tap out to play this creature. One reason for this is to have some sort of means of protecting her after she resolves, the other being that you will probably need mana to do anything meaningful with the extra cards you've just drawn, given that some of those might be removal, bounce spells or even miracle cards (Terminus, Temporal Mastery etc.). In some decks I would be more then happy to pay 2 life on average for an extra card, most black mages would agree with me on this. Yes, the creature has to attack into it, but this also means that you just might draw something before the damage actually happens so you could get several extra cards at bargain rates, if the deck is constructed with that possibility in mind. __________________ In my dream, the world had suffered a terrible disaster. A black haze shut out the sun, and the darkness was alive with the moans and screams of wounded people. Suddenly, a small light glowed. A candle flickered into life, symbol of hope for millions. A single tiny candle, shining in the ugly dark. I laughed and blew it out. Many thanks to HotP Studios. Special thanks to DNC for this great sig.
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09-03-2012, 11:46 AM	#34
Zhared Ascended Mage Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 334	Other than the 4 toughness, I think this card is great in the current meta; we'll have to wait to see if it's good in the upcoming one, though. __________________
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09-03-2012, 04:10 PM	#36
pandafarmer Just pootin' Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 12,741	Honestly what bums me out most is that she's the leader of Azorious, and yet the card ability couldn't be more countering of their main mechanic... Awesome! Your guys can't attack! Which... also means I can't draw cards... meh __________________ www.mtgotraders.com - Enter Code PANDAPAYPAL for 8% off! www.CapeFearGames.com - Enter Code PANDA for 5% off! Limit of 1 coupon per order
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09-03-2012, 04:19 PM	#37
albino penguin Archmage Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 851	With the set spoiled as is, not impressive. It's going to be functionally a vanilla 6/4 flying beater much of the time. Which isn't what I was looking for in a legendary mythic guild leader. You're opponent just isn't going to attack into a 6/4 if they've not got game on the board. Yes, I'm sure there's going to be scenarios when the ability does trigger, but unless white we're Azorus is getting the ability to force attacks from somewhere, it wont be often enough to justify over other finishers. __________________ void Announce(Announcement ann) { Announce(ann); }
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09-03-2012, 04:53 PM	#38
italofoca Archmage Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 797	Shes only good with PWs. If you have PW on the table your opponents going to attack you like crazy to prevent a ultimate and you can try to use some spells to mitigate the damage while drawing cards. The 6 power in a flying finisher is very meanful as it end the game in 3 turns or 4 turns, unlike conssacrated sphinx that ends the game only in 5 (her worst atribute). The low toughness is terrible because it is easy to get removed. And yes, control decks finishers should work around at least 50% of the vastly used removals. Control usually play 3~5 finishers, getting removed by random spells might simply deny your win condition or delay the game too much. She also trades with 4 power creatures, stuff that normaly are dropped on turn 3~4 (and shes dropped on turn 6~7!). I dunno why they made her power level so insanely low. Niv-Mizzet has the better 5/5 body and draws you 3 or 4 cards at the end of each oponents turn, while burning him for 3 or 4. The difference between the cards are abysmal !
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09-03-2012, 05:09 PM	#41
italofoca Archmage Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 797	Rethinking her: 1. PWs are already reason enough to make your opponents attack you. And PW and finishers work very well together (Frost/Sun/Grave Titan and Jaces did). 2. This is not the kind of creature you play on the typical WU permission-DoJ decks. It's obviously a weak card when the deck you play keeps your oponent's table clean as primary defensive tatic. Isperia is for decks who play a bunch of Defender creature and maintain a good combat defense. The only way your opponent can damage you is by attacking with multiple creatures and hope one of then "leaks". Isperias thrive on that, drawing you a ridicolous amount of cards. Unfortunely that kind of deck never played outside of kitchen tables ! ='(
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09-03-2012, 05:14 PM	#42
Vaclav Immortal One Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,004	Considering what Azorius colors got the first time around and the push towards swarm and single target stuff that the current guilds present, she's looking like she'll be superb against the Populate decks if they take off, while Detain will not be. Look at the guilds right now, some she'll be great against and some she will not - but most of those that she'll not be so hot against, detain is good against: Selesnya - Tokens out the wazzoo theme, as well as some indestructibility and occasionally monsterously huge dudes. Detain is generally going to be worse than real removal and weenie answers - she'll be huge on the other hand. Rakdos - No blockers, must constantly attack if we choose the Unleash for +1/+1 or else we've got a useless creature sitting on the sidelines. Again, good for her, not so good for detain since they should have constant creature pressure. Golgari - Voltron'ing up a few biggies theme. Detain is king here. Their secondary option of swarming with saprolings she messes up nicely however JIC. Izzet - Couple critters with lots of instant/sorcery support - bad for her, but great for detain again. White/Blue historically is about restricting your opponents options - detain pushes them towards a swarm strategy, Isperia pushes them towards a single huge attacker strategy - leaving them in a difficult balance to evaluate. Will she see play in Constructed? It's far too early to say for sure for anything, but just like Jace, I certainly wouldn't rule her out. Ravnica 1.0 Constructed was largely won on the backs of Guildmages and other critters that weren't particularly large - much like Jace - assuming RTR is as much like Ravnica 1.0 as it appears so far, her value will become apparent as more is spoiled. Also note please that Detain doesn't have to be used on critters - in fact, for my testing of the mechanic against current stuff - I often see greater value in using it on NON-creature targets. Also note, she doesn't have to be on defense for her ability to kick in, a few posts seem to imply that.
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09-03-2012, 05:18 PM	#43
Aesnath Where is my mind? Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,258	That effect would have been pretty scary on an enchantment or cheaper creature. As it is, I just don't see where it will fit. Control decks likely have better options and midrange wants better beaters. __________________ Sig by Dark Night Cavalier at Heroes of the Plane Studios!
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09-03-2012, 06:21 PM	#44
hallodri Experienced Mage Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 65	Gideon Jura likes her.
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09-03-2012, 06:27 PM	#45
Blue_Oneironaut Wizard Mentor Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 521	I think she's pretty cool but the card advantage isn't necessarily going to happen. I'd like to think the current standard of Lots O Creatures could give her a chance, but I think we need to see RTR to even have the slightest idea what people are going to play. At any rate I don't like the 4 toughness.
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