mafteechr's classroom: Precursor Golem
Features
mafteechr
8 March 2011
2647 views
8 March 2011
2647 views
Precursor Golem is really cool. However, it gets really messy even if you have two on the battlefield.
Case 1: 1 Precursor Golem, 2 Golem tokens.
Our process is going to be keeping things organized. First, we'll state what it is we're starting with. Then, we'll figure out how many copies are made. Finally, we'll add everything together.
When Precursor Golem (or any other Golem) is targeted by a kicked Rite of Replication, Precursor Golem's ability triggers and creates a copy for each other Golem in play. We'll go over this again when we have more Precursor Golems on the battlefield.
We start with 1 Precursor Golem and 2 Golem tokens. Let's figure out how many copies we're making.
1 Precursor Golem x5 = 5 Precursor Golem copies
2 Golem tokens x5 = 10 Golem token copies
The 5 new Precursor Golems each trigger 2 Golem tokens, so that's 10 more Golem tokens. Adding up what we started with and the copies made, we now have 6 Precursor Golems and 22 Golem tokens. Not too shabby! Let's make things more complicated.
Before we get into Rite of Replication, let's focus on a simpler example. We'll replace Rite of Replication with Giant Growth.
So, we'll target one of the Precursor Golems with Giant Growth. Both of the Precursor Golems' abilities trigger. For the targeted Precursor Golem, it creates a copy for each other Golem. For the nontargeted Precursor Golem, it also creates a copy for each Golem except the original targeted one. Let's analyze the amount of copies.
Targeted Precursor Golem x 1 Giant Growth
Nontargeted Precursor Golem x2 Giant Growth
4 Golem tokens x2 Giant Growth each
This leads to an interesting finding that I did not expect. While it makes no difference in this example, if you cast Giant Growth on a Golem token, then both Precursor Golems would get 2 copies of Giant Growth. This makes a significant difference with Rite of Replication.
Back to the kicked Rite of Replication. We'll first focus on targeting a Precursor Golem.
Targeted Precursor Golem x5 = 5 Precursor Golem copies
Nontargeted Precursor Golem x 5 x 2 = 10 Precursor Golem copies
4 Golem tokens x5 x2 = 40 Golem token copies
Each copy of Precursor Golem spits out 2 more Golem tokens, which comes to 30 more Golem tokens. To add everything up, we're at 17 Precursor Golems and 74 Golem tokens.
Now, let's check out what happens if we target a Golem token.
2 Precursor Golems x 5 x 2 = 20 Precursor Golem copies
Targeted Golem token x 5 = 5 Golem token copies
3 nontargeted Golem tokens x 5 x 2 = 30 Golem token copies
20 Precursor Golem copies x 2 = 40 Golem tokens
Total: 22 Precursor Golems, 79 Golem tokens.
Targeting a Golem token instead of Precursor Golem with a kicked Rite of Replication yields more copies.
Let's start with targeting a Precursor Golem.
Targeted Precursor Golem x 5 = 5 Precursor Golem copies
2 nontargeted Card:Precursor Golems x 5 x 3 = 30 Precursor Golem copies
6 Golem tokens x 5 x 3 = 90 Golem token copies
35 Precursor Golem copies x 2 = 70 Golem tokens
Total: 38 Precursor Golems, 166 Golem tokens.
And now targeting a Golem token.
3 Precursor Golems x 5 x 3 = 45 Precursor Golem copiesCase 4: 4 Precursor Golems, 8 Golem tokens
Targeted Golem token x 5 = 5 Golem token copies
5 nontargeted Golem tokens x 5 x 3 = 75 Golem token copies
45 Precursor Golem copies x 2 = 90 Golem tokens
Total: 48 Precursor Golems, 176 Golem tokens.
First, targeting a Precursor Golem.
Targeted Precursor Golem x 5 = 5 Precursor Golem copies
3 nontargeted Precursor Golems x 5 x 4 = 60 Precursor Golem copies
8 Golem tokens x5 x4 = 160 Golem token copies
65 Precursor Golem copies x2 = 130 Golem tokens
Total: 69 Precursor Golems, 298 Golem tokens.
Lastly, targeting a Golem token.
4 Precursor Golems x 5 x 4 = 80 Precursor Golem copies
Targeted Golem token x 5 = 5 Golem token copies
7 nontargeted Golem tokens x 5 x 4 = 140 Golem token copies
80 Precursor Golem copies x2 = 160 Golem tokens
Total: 84 Precursor Golems, 313 Golem tokens.
Bonus: A second kicked Rite of Replication targeting a Precursor Golem after a kicked Rite of Replication targeting a Precursor Golem resolves.
Starting: 69 Card:Precursor Golems, 298 Golem tokens
Targeted Precursor Golem x 5 = 5 Precursor Golem copies
68 nontargeted Precursor Golems x5 x69 = 23460 Precursor Golem copies
298 Golem tokens x5 x69 = 102810 Golem token copies
23465 Precursor Golem copies x2 = 46930 Golem tokens
Total: 23534 Precursor Golems, 150038 Golem tokens.
Quick reference wrap up:
1 Precursor and 2 tokens = 6 Precursors and 22 tokens
2 Precursors and 4 tokens = 17 Precursors and 74 tokens or 22 Precursors and 79 tokens
3 Precursors and 6 tokens = 38 Precursors and 166 tokens or 48 Precursors and 176 tokens
4 Precursors and 8 tokens = 69 Precursors and 298 tokens or 84 Precursors and 313 tokens
I hope everyone had fun reading this, because I had fun writing it! Enjoy!
eerickross says... #5
Fling does not work because it never targets. Which is why Shape Anew works.
March 8, 2011 10:20 p.m.
papabearcia1 says... #7
owner of precursor golem has one poison counter, then opponent plays Spread the Sickness . 70+ poison counter?!? what?!?! mindfreak.
March 9, 2011 2:06 a.m.
Precursor Golem has to be one of the worst rares from SoM. Any removal or direct damage spell ruins not just one but all of the army that was just summoned. I can't think of a single deck in standard that can't deal with 15 or 70 or 1,000,000 of these Golems. So yeah, I hope I see an opponent waste card space in their deck and dump tons of mana into this gimmick. Every color has a one or two mana answer at common level; just pull out a Lightning Bolt , Doom Blade , Unsummon , Revoke Existence or Naturalize . Why even waste time writing an article on this garbage card?
March 10, 2011 4:41 p.m.
However, Indomitable Archangel will give them shroud, and a single one activates metalcraft in a pinch.
March 10, 2011 5:29 p.m.
Turn Aside does nothing for the golems. It doesn't target said golems and will not be copied.
Please write an article about how many spells a player can counter in a turn after a kicked rite of replication on a Lullmage Mentor with one counter spell in hand.
March 11, 2011 9:46 p.m.
I think Precursor Golem is an awesome card begging for abuse.A careful build around could make the card devastating; Withstand Death works offensively & defensively, Slice in Twain for card draw, & Tainted Strike for those nice surprise poison finishes. It's drawbacks aren't really that bad & keep the card balanced. For 5 mana you get 9 power & toughness worth of metal on the board that cannot be blocked by a single creature. If it dies from a Lightning Bolt then you have only gone card for card.
March 11, 2011 11:50 p.m.
Twisted Image works better than Slice in Twain for the cantrip.
March 12, 2011 12:22 a.m.
Asceticism would stop most of your problems. From there either play Mimic Vat or Prototype Portal to churn them out at a semi-regular pace until you get a hold of a Rite of Replication to kick. Could even splash black and add Liquimetal Coating for Tezz. Animate Asceticism and it protects itself.
If it's going to be an off the wall Precursor Golem deck, may as well go all out, right?
AegairEtapa says... #1
And that is why people love Precursor Golem and Rite of Replication .. Awesome work!
March 8, 2011 12:13 p.m.