[SCD] Awaken the Ancient

[DerWille]

Mods if we're not allowed to talk about this yet, go ahead and move it.



So what's everyone's opinion on this card? Is it good? Is it bad? Is it a trap?

Pros
- 7/7 Haste Creature
- 4 CMC
- Tough enough to dodge burn

Cons
- He requires 5 mana to get haste
- No evasion or trample
- Lets your opponents blow up a land with creature kill

[Platypus]

It's a trap. If it would untap the land it enchants then I'd consider it. Or if it had an ability that gets damage through, like Trample. Theros might change things, but for now it's pretty bad.

[redthirst]

Mods if we're not allowed to talk about this yet, go ahead and move it.

lulz

So what's everyone's opinion on this card? Is it good? Is it bad? Is it a trap?

[DroppinSuga]

Wait, there's mods on this site?

[admin]

just technically. We even have mod lounge we don't use!

[zemanjaski]

Not constructed playable.

[DerWille]

Red, sorry man, but that joke went right over my head.

Not constructed playable.

Thanks Zman. Is it because it lacks trample, evasion, or some game changing ETB effect? A large body isn't enough to qualify a curve topper in constructed, right?

[windstrider]

It's a 5 drop, masquerading as a 4-drop. With Doom Blade running around, there's also the chance of losing the land it enchants. If you want to try it, then run it with Legion Loyalist to give it first strike and trample. Otherwise, it's embarrassing when a 7/7 gets chumped by a 1/1 token.

[redthirst]

Red, sorry man, but that joke went right over my head.

Not a Star Wars fan I take it?

[redthirst]

[Alex]

Wait, there's mods on this site?

Technically Zeman and I are the Standard mods but we use this thing that MTGS mods don't use: "discretion."

[pejmagic]

Hello.
This card... It's a room full of traps. =)

[DerWille]

It's a 5 drop, masquerading as a 4-drop. With Doom Blade running around, there's also the chance of losing the land it enchants. If you want to try it, then run it with Legion Loyalist to give it first strike and trample. Otherwise, it's embarrassing when a 7/7 gets chumped by a 1/1 token.

Thanks for the answer. That basically confirms my suspicion, that....

Everytime I see that picture, I keep hearing, "It's a trap!" in Dr. Zoidberg's voice.

[Platypus]

Admiral Akbar does sound like Dr. Zoidberg...

[lorddax]

This card will blow you out in limited tho

My question is does this card's value change if it runs with other cards, particularly Gruul War Chant/Pyreheart Wolf, or even Goblin Diplomats? Of course that would me we are trading a slot in decks running these cards for a go big or go home card . . .

[redthirst]

Admiral Akbar does sound like Dr. Zoidberg...

Especially that part right after the Death Star blew up when he went "Whoop whoop whoop whoop..."

[Yarpus]

You are underestimating this card a lot. It's fantastic as long as you don't face Azorius Charm. Let me say something like this: would you play a creature which costs 5 mana and requires sacrificing a land, but is 7/7 hasty beater? I would. Why? Simple answer. Because that's the biggest creature in the format except of Kalonian Hydra swinging and X-based creatures. This guy allows you to deal with the midrange and doesn't get burned. He dies? Boo,hoo - you are going to miss that 5th land, aren't you?

[Khaospawn]

Yarpus, you tested it yet?

[Alex]

You are underestimating this card a lot. It's fantastic as long as you don't face Azorius Charm. Let me say something like this: would you play a creature which costs 5 mana and requires sacrificing a land, but is 7/7 hasty beater? I would. Why? Simple answer. Because that's the biggest creature in the format except of Kalonian Hydra swinging and X-based creatures. This guy allows you to deal with the midrange and doesn't get burned. He dies? Boo,hoo - you are going to miss that 5th land, aren't you?

So wait, we're not facing Azorious Charm? Sweet! Good thing I've got the better Thundermaw Hellkite to spend 5 mana on!

This card seems fine in a vacuum but outside of that it has no real practical application.

[RedNihilist]

The only thing that I've found amusing about this card is learning that a fuckin' mountain has got the same endurance as an elf shaman (did anyone say Emmara?).

[DerWille]

Just think of Emma working out a lot as compensation for being the worst card in the set.

Yarpus, what I think they're trying to say is that Thundermaw Hellkite can consistently get in for damage because it has flying and can tap all fliers when it enters the battle field. So unless they have instant speed removal, you're going to get 5 damage in. In addition to instant speed removal, Awaken the Ancient can be reliably chump blocked. Especially with all the token decks in the format at the moment, 1/1 tokens could keep him from ending the game for a very long time. I want to say it lacks reach, (I don't think that word means what I think it means) and that's what keeps it from being a good top end card for a red deck.

However, if you've got play testing with it, please tell us. I don't have a dedicated mono-red deck to experiment with (I'm more of a white weenie guy who likes to play with fire) but if you've got
results that can give us a different perspective, I'd like to hear it.

[Khaospawn]

Bro, do you even test?

[hamfactorial]

I don't test, I just listen to Cedric Phillips.

[Tom Servo]

Mods if we're not allowed to talk about this yet, go ahead and move it.

INFRACTION!

[Khaospawn]

I don't test, I just listen to Cedric Phillips.

I hear he's quite good.

[DerWille]

Bro, do you even test?

I think you're one funny picture away from making a new meme.

[Alex]

Bro, do you even test?

I think you're one funny picture away from making a new meme.

You're welcome.

[Yarpus]

Nah, I have no possibility of testing that one yet. Currently I'm in place where playing MTG is not possible, and bastards took away Cockatrice from me - so it's hard to see how anything works. I was this kind of freak who was trying out various decks/cards all days playing games against myself on Cock.

I know why Dragon is obviously so cool, guys, easy. Still - I also see why the mountain can also be cool. It's actually much better at dealing with midrange. Thundermaw can't block Thragtusk - this bad boy can with ease. And actually nobody except of Reanimator plays creatures that big. Do you understand a concept of aggro having access to higher P/T creatures than Control? It actually creates lategame scenarios - maybe Awaken the Ancient is worse in terms of providing reach (Thundermaw is friggin Lava Axe with tapped dragon on the field) but it should perform better in case of those grindy matchups where creatures give
their evil touch to other creatures.

[Khaospawn]

Bro, do you even test?

I think you're one funny picture away from making a new meme.

You're welcome.

My sides

[Alex]

Nah, I have no possibility of testing that one yet. Currently I'm in place where playing MTG is not possible, and bastards took away Cockatrice from me - so it's hard to see how anything works. I was this kind of freak who was trying out various decks/cards all days playing games against myself on Cock.

I know why Dragon is obviously so cool, guys, easy. Still - I also see why the mountain can also be cool. It's actually much better at dealing with midrange. Thundermaw can't block Thragtusk - this bad boy can with ease. And actually nobody except of Reanimator plays creatures that big. Do you understand a concept of aggro having access to higher P/T creatures than Control? It actually creates lategame scenarios - maybe Awaken the Ancient is worse in terms of providing
reach (Thundermaw is friggin Lava Axe with tapped dragon on the field) but it should perform better in case of those grindy matchups where creatures give their evil touch to other creatures.

Control matchups are not an issue as it is, especially for mono red. You don't need a late game, control doesn't ever get there against you.

[RedNihilist]

It's difficult to NOT compare this to the Hellkite, as everyone facing a red-based aggro just start shitting in his pant whan you drop that fifth land.
This THING can be blocked by every creature, will die to any kind of non-damage-based removal and/or deathtouch creature leaving you with one less land, and makes cards like Azorius Charm twice as effective.
Sorry mate, but the drawbacks overweigh the pros by far.

[pejmagic]

This card is just good to make your kitchen table stabilized.
Today i'm sad and just hoping tomorrow i won't see a : "Vexing devil is phat play it in all red decks" post.