Reasons for banning

[Keyeto]

I wonder why {Felidar sovreign} isnt banned though...

My personal thoughts on this:

1) It doesn't do anything immediately, it's effect doesn't do anything until your next turn (which could be three turns from now in multiplayer)

2) It doesn't have any sort of protection from removal (shroud, protection, etc)

3) it's really only useful in a life gain deck. By the time you have 6 mana to cast him, and/or draw him, you'll likely not have 40 life otherwise.

4) If you play him and win, the other players are likely to just keep playing for "second place" and hardly consider it a victory.

Just thoughts on the card. I've never played against him, but these reasons make sense to me.

[Teysa karlov]

I wonder why {Felidar sovreign} isnt banned though...

My personal thoughts on this:

1) It doesn't do anything immediately, it's effect doesn't do anything until your next turn (which could be three turns from now in multiplayer)

2) It doesn't have any sort of protection from removal (shroud, protection, etc)

3) it's really only useful in a life gain deck. By the time you have 6 mana to cast him, and/or draw him, you'll likely not have 40 life otherwise.

4) If you play him and win, the other players are likely to just keep playing for "second place" and hardly consider it a victory.

Just thoughts on the card. I've never played against him, but these reasons make sense to me.

my local EDH group say that for some one to win with {Felidar sovreign} they need 80 life, so it's more fun

[Stoneco1d869]

Because its so much fun to go 'i cast my commander. Next turn i win!'

Along with {iona, shield of emeria}
"I cast iona. I ban you from playing green spells. You are running mono green. I win'" its a blast

If someone is able to throw down Iona and you are playing mono, I say you get what you deserve:) lol

[Dudecore]

Because its so much fun to go 'i cast my commander. Next turn i win!'

Along with {iona, shield of emeria}
"I cast iona. I ban you from playing green spells. You are running mono green. I win'" its a blast

If someone is able to throw down Iona and you are playing mono, I say you get what you deserve:) lol

Not really, mono decks should be allowed to compete also. {Karakas} is banned, and sometimes you can stop it. {Kaalia of the Vast} makes it uncounterable.

[MisterJH]

Exactly why the heck shouldnt mono decks be allowed in? Or even dual colored decks where most spells are both colors? Its such a craphead move, i say if you played iona and got exiled from your playgroup YOU get what YOU deserve

[Dudecore]

Exactly why the heck shouldnt mono decks be allowed in? Or even dual colored decks where most spells are both colors? Its such a craphead move, i say if you played iona and got exiled from your playgroup YOU get what YOU deserve

That's a bit extreme, but I understand. Our playgroup banned it, most playgroups do. Same could be said about cards like {Bribery}, they swing the game pretty early. You can even bribe an {Iona, Shield of Emeria} for yourself....you know, if youre lame like that.

Also, it's a multiplayer game, if Iona locks someone out, you could always play the political game to get back in. It's just a weak sauce move.

[Wackaman9001]

Exactly why the heck shouldnt mono decks be allowed in? Or even dual colored decks where most spells are both colors? Its such a craphead move, i say if you played iona and got exiled from your playgroup YOU get what YOU deserve

That's a bit extreme, but I understand. Our playgroup banned it, most playgroups do. Same could be said about cards like {Bribery}, they swing the game pretty early. You can even bribe an {Iona, Shield of Emeria} for yourself....you know, if youre lame like that.

Also, it's a multiplayer game, if Iona locks someone out, you could always play the political game to get back in. It's just a weak sauce move.

Tons of mono decks run removal from artifacts, and it's not like she blocks abilities  every card in magic has a response, and sometimes that response has to be a lucky draw or .politics.

[Stoneco1d869]

I just think mono decks require less thought due to no mana fixing issues. Iona is tuff to get around and she prevents someone from at least casting their commander, but her high mana cost makes me less worried. Plus you can always counter her, board wipe or remove her..

[Dudecore]

I just think mono decks require less thought due to no mana fixing issues. Iona is tuff to get around and she prevents someone from at least casting their commander, but her high mana cost makes me less worried. Plus you can always counter her, board wipe or remove her..

I beg to differ about mana fixing being a requirement of "thought", it isn't that difficult to fix mana in a 2 or 3 color deck. I think everyone's impression is that for every threat, there is an answer is correct - doesn't mean that some cards can't draw more ire then others.

Also, what "thought" goes into cheating her on the battlefield with {Kaalia of the Vast} and locking everyone out? Casting her is a different story, you should have a counter or something up. But {Cavern of Souls} is a thing. As far as mono-decks having Artifact based creature removal - I don't know any that do.

The simple fact is, does it ruin the game? No.
Is it impossible to stop? No. Does it make the game more enjoyable? No. It is a card from the new generation of Magic design - huge card which it's only drawback is its mana cost. It's lame and lacking any sense of originality.

[Double-O-Scotch]

Which begs the question... Why is {griselbrand} banned and {Necropotence} not banned. In my experience, it's always been easier to destroy a creature than to destroy an enchantment and the fact that you can {dark ritual} for it turn 1 just makes it seem too overpowering. Don't get me wrong. I love seeing the ice age logo on cards hit the battlefield but necro just makes me annnngry...

[Stoneco1d869]

I disagree about mana in multi colored decks. Yes a two color deck is easier and so on, but you don't have to worry about not getting the color needed in a mono color deck. That is my point.

For example, lets use  {Necropotence} since Double O mentioned it. Assuming you hit your land drop every turn, this card can be dropped turn 3. This is amazing in EDH. Heck you can even have tutored for it.

Now lets assume you have a dual colored deck. Even if you hit your land drop every turn it is unlikely that you hit 3 of the color needed because your odds are reduced. There will be games, and in my experience many, that it will take many turns until you hit 3 of one certain color. This is the problem that multi colored decks incur.

This is also the reason that many players avoid cards with three + of any on specific color. But again this is just my opinion.

So yes In your situation she can be put out early, but when I refer to mono colored decks I'm referring to there consistency of putting out "needed" mana.

[Stoneco1d869]

Which begs the question... Why is {griselbrand} banned and {Necropotence} not banned. In my experience, it's always been easier to destroy a creature than to destroy an enchantment and the fact that you can {dark ritual} for it turn 1 just makes it seem too overpowering. Don't get me wrong. I love seeing the ice age logo on cards hit the battlefield but necro just makes me annnngry...

Yes getting one out early is game changing for sure, but the difference is that  {Griselbrand} has the potential to recoup the life lost while bashing in the head of your opponent as well.

I could see him being unbanned as a commander.

[Gorzo]

Which begs the question... Why is {griselbrand} banned and {Necropotence} not banned. In my experience, it's always been easier to destroy a creature than to destroy an enchantment and the fact that you can {dark ritual} for it turn 1 just makes it seem too overpowering. Don't get me wrong. I love seeing the ice age logo on cards hit the battlefield but necro just makes me annnngry...

The 1 and only reason is that with {Necropotence}, you don't get the cards you draw until YOUR next end step. Meaning you can't do crap with what you draw until your next turn, save for the instants, and you just wrecked your own life total and made yourself a target. However, {Griselbrand} is true instant speed, giving you the ultimate speed luxery. That is what pushes Griselbrand over the top. The fact that he's a gigantic flying lifelink demon is just gravy on top of that.

[Double-O-Scotch]

Touché, sir.

[wvEricP]

Because its so much fun to go 'i cast my commander. Next turn i win!'

Along with {iona, shield of emeria}
"I cast iona. I ban you from playing green spells. You are running mono green. I win'" its a blast

I run Iona in a legacy angel deck, I love seeing people cry when I say their mono deck is useless to them