Why are shock lands so much money. I don't see why they are so good. For example: {Stomping Ground}
It's just a land that enters tapped unless I pay life. I know I wasn't too big on phyrexian mana too, but paying life for mana seems just a little extreme to me. If you want my shock lands... Just take them!
(And for the record, {Jungle Troll} is beautiful.)
I'll take em ✋
Shocklands are priced because they're highly sought after. Most lands that give you more than one mana come into play tapped. Having the ability to have that mana right away is great. When it comes down to it, mana is the way you're going to win, and the faster your source of mana, the better. And being able to pay life instead of mana: HUGELY overpowered. See: {Channel}, {Fireball}, and {Black Lotus}. It was an easy way to kill the opponent before they could even take their turn. All because of using life for mana.
I think it's because you can play the shock land and if you're desperate for mana you can pay life that can allow to take an immediate advantage using one of the two colours if mana you get. So if there's a card that could win you the game and you know your opponent hasn't got anyway to counter it you could pay the two life to cast the card while you can.
Magic is a game of resources, life is one of those resources. You don't get bonus points for winning with the most amount of life. You win by getting your opponent to 0 by whatever means necessary.
Quote from: Keyeto on March 19, 2013, 04:54:04 PM
Shocklands are priced because they're highly sought after. Most lands that give you more than one mana come into play tapped. Having the ability to have that mana right away is great. When it comes down to it, mana is the way you're going to win, and the faster your source of mana, the better. And being able to pay life instead of mana: HUGELY overpowered. See: {Channel}, {Fireball}, and {Black Lotus}. It was an easy way to kill the opponent before they could even take their turn. All because of using life for mana.
Of course {Black Lotus} has since been banned.
I do see the idea behind these cards though: {Dimir Aqueduct}
Bounce Lands or Karoo lands are for reusing lands with abilities ({Bojuka Bog}, {Vesuva}, renaming {Cavern of Souls}) and for Landfall - ie {Grazing Gladehart}
I think we are being {Sea Troll}ed.
Actually you're being {Murder}ed.
Quote from: The1337Magician on March 19, 2013, 05:39:23 PM
Actually you're being {Murder}ed.
May I direct your attention this way?
http://imtgapp.com/forum/index.php?topic=160.0#top
#4
Clever. {Jace's Ingenuity}
{I had no actual intention of murdering anyone}
Quote from: The1337Magician on March 19, 2013, 05:58:39 PM
Clever. {Jace's Ingenuity}
{I had no actual intention of murdering anyone}
Hahah I know guy.
{You've gotta admit this is pretty cool}
Why does that link to a card?
Quote from: The1337Magician on March 19, 2013, 06:01:29 PM
{You've gotta admit this is pretty cool}
Why does that link to a card?
Anything put in curly brackets will try and link the closest card to it. It's led to some fun things, like the "What Card Are You?" Topic.
Quote from: Dudecore on March 19, 2013, 04:56:17 PM
Magic is a game of resources, life is one of those resources. You don't get bonus points for winning with the most amount of life. You win by getting your opponent to 0 by whatever means necessary.
This... Does it matter if you have 20 life or 1 life if your opponent has 0? No... If the land helps you cast what you need and you have responses to your opponent, then it is a huge advantage.
Yes, currently in standard I will pay the life for any shock land with white in it and leave it untapped just too make my opponent think I might have a {Smite} in my hand. It's a great defensive bluff.
I personally enjoy the gates. An {amulet of vigor} and voila! Dual lands!
I don't think I've ever won or lost by so close a margin as 2 life, closest I usually come is ~6. I'm willing to put my neck out there for 2 if it means I can gain some sort of advantage on my opponent, like a fave of mine, T1 {vexing devil}.
I don't think that the current standard environment respects shock land that much. Tap lands to newer players are strictly better then shock lands, it is hard to argue with. Shocklands as far as they're concerned come in tapped, like guild gates. Taplands come into play untapped because they run more basic land.
Edit: Rotation may make them respect shocks more, but with Taplands in the mix it is hard to argue with the idea that Shocklands are not worth it.
I'd rather have {W} open for {Terminus}, or spend the 2 life on {Watery Grave} to have my opponent think I am sitting on {Dissipate}. Problem is that newer players don't think like that. The 2 life spent acting like you're sitting on a counter is worth it verse a seasoned player - but is worthless vs. a new player that doesn't think in abstract game states.
I do believe shock lands have worth. But I am not a beginner at the game. I started the thread (mostly for a new conversation) but also to get to know you guys. Thanks for giving your honest opinion.
Quote from: The1337Magician on March 21, 2013, 07:27:10 AM
I do believe shock lands have worth. But I am not a beginner at the game. I started the thread (mostly for a new conversation) but also to get to know you guys. Thanks for giving your honest opinion.
Yeah hold onto them, you'll see their worth eventually. When I was a new player I saw no reason for the zedikar lands. Now I see I was wrong. Cards like {Scalding Tarn} don't know if it's called shockland still, oh well...
It's either hold on, or trade. You can trade for pretty good stuff too. But remember if your getting rid of them, remember do it before dragon maze. If their getting rid of basics, then shocklands will come up more often, and decrease in value.
Quote from: FlickerYourOwnIdentity on March 22, 2013, 10:44:00 PM
Quote from: The1337Magician on March 21, 2013, 07:27:10 AM
I do believe shock lands have worth. But I am not a beginner at the game. I started the thread (mostly for a new conversation) but also to get to know you guys. Thanks for giving your honest opinion.
Yeah hold onto them, you'll see their worth eventually. When I was a new player I saw no reason for the zedikar lands. Now I see I was wrong. Cards like {Scalding Tarn} don't know if it's called shockland still, oh well...
It's either hold on, or trade. You can trade for pretty good stuff too. But remember if your getting rid of them, remember do it before dragon maze. If their getting rid of basics, then shocklands will come up more often, and decrease in value.
I believe they said shocklands will appear abou 1/2 as often as in RTR or GTC. Youll just get a butt load of guildgates. Dont quote me though
Omg
{Jungle Troll}
Is Nicki Minaj before she was famous.
Quote from: SixShotVixXen on March 22, 2013, 10:52:13 PM
Omg
{Jungle Troll}
Is Nicki Minaj before she was famous.
I don't know what that has to do with the topic, but you made me snort with laughter.