Wizards of the Coast, you so crazy! (Official Darksteel preview)

[Mr. President]

I am totally sold on Darksteel.

Not only does it have the coolest name ever, I'm impressed by the innovation factor. You'd think they'd start running out of new ideas after ten years.

[Spiffor]

I love Darksteel

Especially, I love that Kev "Keldon Warlord" Walker illustrated it. It's my youth all over again

[DinoDoc]

I'm not really afraid of Indestructible creatures. I can deal with those. What I'd like to know how other colors that aren't blue deal with Indestructible non-Creature artifacts?

[Spiffor]

I don't know, but phasing looks kind of fun now What a petty vengeance against these indestructible things

[Mr. President]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
I'm not really afraid of Indestructible creatures. I can deal with those. What I'd like to know how other colors that aren't blue deal with Indestructible non-Creature artifacts?

Red uses Apocalypse or Misguided Rage.

White uses Altar's Light or the ancient, ancient Dust to Dust.

Green is going to have a problem because most of its anti-artifact weapons say "Destroy target artifact". You can splash out for the Urza's Destiny sorcery Splinter, but unless they put something new in the Darksteel set, Green will have no options in the current environment.

Black has a hell of a time dealing with artifacts, indestructible or no. They haven't reprinted Warp Artifact since the Fourth Edition. That's just an annoyance tactic anyway.

Edit: What odds would you give for a reprint of Curse Artifact?

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Crimson Sunrise
Green is going to have a problem because most of its anti-artifact weapons say "Destroy target artifact". You can splash out for the Urza's Destiny sorcery Splinter, but unless they put something new in the Darksteel set, Green will have no options in the current environment.

Molder Slug.

[Mr. President]

I stand corrected.

[SnowFire]

Actually, Black has Relic Bane, freshly printed in Mirrodin, which is better than either Warp Artifact or Curse Artifact. Okay, maybe Curse Artifact is better if your opponent is stupid and makes the wrong choice or you use Mindslaver, but that's pretty rare.

UR: Sure, Dawn Elemental can block trampling critters, even under the old rules. It's just not so helpful. Under the old rules, all the damage would trample past (so an 8/5 Silvos would deal 8 damage. Still, you could block it with the DE, and therefore maybe be able to use abilities that depend on it being blocked). Under the new rules, you have to assign what would be lethal damage- even if it gets prevented- so Silvos would only deal 5 damage past the Elemental (which would survive, of course).

[DinoDoc]

New Card:

[DinoDoc]

It looks like a good draft card. I can not see myself putting it in any of my real decks though.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by SnowFire
UR: Sure, Dawn Elemental can block trampling critters, even under the old rules. It's just not so helpful...so Silvos would only deal 5 damage past the Elemental (which would survive, of course).

I meant it can block, but the blocking would do nothing. The new rule is better, but still not very helpful.

On the other hand, something like the Goblin Snowman is great against tramplers.

[Mr. President]

I like that Skullclamp. I could see me using that.

[DinoDoc]

I kind of like this card. I definately looks more playable than the Leveler:

[SnowFire]

Skullclamp + Nuisance Engine means you pay 3 mana and draw 2 cards, which isn't a bad deal. Could also be used with Mobilizaiton, where it'd be 4 mana for 2 cards, but it could be used multiple times in a turn... which is probably not neccessary, since you just drew two cards!

The problem is, a lot of the competitive decks these days like killing creatures waaaay too much. Against most decks, Mask of Memory is probably better, but against Wrath & other kill happy decks, grab the Clamp. You get the cards even if they kill it next turn, and the power boost doesn't hurt either.

On the downside, that would make 1 toughness creatures less desireable for most aggro decks.

[DinoDoc]

Here's the card they are previewing for Monday: