The thing is, my blue section wants an early wall more so than any other color. But I don't see a good option except maybe Wall of Tears. Shield Sphere a fantastic early blocker, coming down on turn one while still allowing for a Ponder, Preordain, or a Force Spike on their turn. It's also a smoking hot Tinker outlet.
Yes, for all the reasons you mentioned. But I prefer Spellskite even if it costs more mana, because it can also attack (with equipment for example) and because it can protect more important creatures and artifacts from removal.
The thing is, my blue section wants an early wall more so than any other color. But I don't see a good option except maybe Wall of Tears.
If you are considering Wall of Tears, why not Fog Bank? It's an early wall, in Blue, and it can block forever...
Regarding Shield Sphere: the idea seems cute, but I honestly don't know how good it can be (yes, it can be Tinkered for, but I'm not sure if that's enough).
(...) Shield Sphere a fantastic early blocker, coming down on turn one while still allowing for a Ponder, Preordain, or a Force Spike on their turn. It's also a smoking hot Tinker outlet.
It does all that, but only on a very specific opening hand. And outside of that opening hand, it's really not a very exciting card. Honestly, I prefer something like Silent Departure as an early Blue defensive card. It doesn't cost 0, but it does hold value later in game. Plus Flashback.
If this guy manages to block goblin guide for 3 or 4 turns or a 3 power guy 2 or 3 turns, that's a lot of damage saved. Is a card that says, pay 0 mana, gain 6-9 life worth it? That certainly seems better than pay 2 mana, gain 6-9 life.
Shield Sphere looks interesting. I have run Steel Wall for a while, and despite never being a super star, it's a roleplayer. It slows down beatdown a lot, can be fetched by Trinket Mage, protects Tezzeret the Seeker, fuels Thirst for Knowledge, and has a handful of other uses being a trinket. The Sphere should work out just as well, if not better.
Shield Sphere looks interesting. I have run Steel Wall for a while, and despite never being a super star, it's a roleplayer. It slows down beatdown a lot, can be fetched by Trinket Mage, protects Tezzeret the Seeker, fuels Thirst for Knowledge, and has a handful of other uses being a trinket. The Sphere should work out just as well, if not better.
Like I said above, if you're considering such a card, Brass Man is going to do a similar job but better. Because it can actually deter attacking altogether, instead of just fogging one creature. Not to mention that it can actually attack if need be.
That's what Maze of Ith does. Imho Shield Sphere is like an early game Maze that doesn't cost you a land drop.
Except Maze lasts indefinitely, is much harder to remove, doesn't care how big the attacker is, doesn't die to combat damage + burn (or artifact removal, or creature removal) and works against attackers with evasion. And Maze can also protect your attacking creatures.
Honestly, I prefer something like Silent Departure as an early Blue defensive card. It doesn't cost 0, but it does hold value later in game. Plus Flashback.
departure is good in basically any deck, while the sphere is only good in control. so that's another major benefit.
When I see Healing Salve, I'm often like "Oh girl, I wish I could turn every card into this." Thanks they removed the gain life part, otherwise this would have been broken.
Like I said above, if you're considering such a card, Brass Man is going to do a similar job but better. Because it can actually deter attacking altogether, instead of just fogging one creature. Not to mention that it can actually attack if need be.
I got both Steel Wall and Brass Man. They are about the same power level in my cube and fill the same role as you mentioned.
The most commonly used walls are Wall of Omens and Wall of Blossoms. A few people also run Carven Caryatid and Wall of Denial. Some people used to use Plumeveil.
The thing is, my blue section wants an early wall more so than any other color. But I don't see a good option except maybe Wall of Tears. Shield Sphere a fantastic early blocker, coming down on turn one while still allowing for a Ponder, Preordain, or a Force Spike on their turn. It's also a smoking hot Tinker outlet.
Has anybody ever considered this "blue" card?
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Seeing that Brass Man actually kills of your opponent's attackers, I'll politely disagree. Brass Man can actually be worth a card.
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If you are considering Wall of Tears, why not Fog Bank? It's an early wall, in Blue, and it can block forever...
Regarding Shield Sphere: the idea seems cute, but I honestly don't know how good it can be (yes, it can be Tinkered for, but I'm not sure if that's enough).
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It does all that, but only on a very specific opening hand. And outside of that opening hand, it's really not a very exciting card. Honestly, I prefer something like Silent Departure as an early Blue defensive card. It doesn't cost 0, but it does hold value later in game. Plus Flashback.
If this guy manages to block goblin guide for 3 or 4 turns or a 3 power guy 2 or 3 turns, that's a lot of damage saved. Is a card that says, pay 0 mana, gain 6-9 life worth it? That certainly seems better than pay 2 mana, gain 6-9 life.
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Like I said above, if you're considering such a card, Brass Man is going to do a similar job but better. Because it can actually deter attacking altogether, instead of just fogging one creature. Not to mention that it can actually attack if need be.
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That's what Maze of Ith does. Imho Shield Sphere is like an early game Maze that doesn't cost you a land drop. Dying while blocking Keldon Marauders or an unleashed Gore-House Chainwalker, or to Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Searing Spear, Incinerate, etc. is just so bad on a creature that's meant to play defense...
Except Maze lasts indefinitely, is much harder to remove, doesn't care how big the attacker is, doesn't die to combat damage + burn (or artifact removal, or creature removal) and works against attackers with evasion. And Maze can also protect your attacking creatures.
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departure is good in basically any deck, while the sphere is only good in control. so that's another major benefit.
maze doesn't die to creature removal and shatter effects, though. that's part of its strength. edit: what whatwolf said.
I got both Steel Wall and Brass Man. They are about the same power level in my cube and fill the same role as you mentioned.
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