Sleeper Cards
Economics forum
Posted on Jan. 21, 2014, 9:54 a.m. by nurzaani
What cards currently in Theros do you think are Sleeper cards? based on MTG's past with stuff like this.
NobodyPicksBulbasaur says... #3
I'm waiting for Boon Satyr to get some real respect. He's played, but I feel like nobody sees his real power yet.
And I still hold that Haunted Plate Mail is criminally underplayed. Criminally.
January 21, 2014 11:34 a.m.
@ThatBlueMage I asked what do you think are sleeper cards, as in guestimating likely possibilities.
January 21, 2014 11:41 a.m.
lord_of_the_snakes says... #5
heliod maybe, if enchantment decks grow in popularity
January 21, 2014 11:46 a.m.
ChrisHansonBiomancin says... #8
@NobodyPicksBulbasaur: It will be interesting to see if Bestow cards in general get more respect since there seem to be a few more quality options coming in BotG. I think it's a fantastic mechanic, as it beats kill spells and boardwipes plus gives haste in a way, but most of the options in Theros were terrible, with Boon Satyr as the one widely-playable option. I really like Everflame Eidolon and Herald of Torment thus far.
January 21, 2014 10:46 p.m.
ChrisHansonBiomancin says... #9
Here's one more off-the-wall idea: How about Ral Zarek with the new Inspired mechanic?
January 21, 2014 10:53 p.m.
NobodyPicksBulbasaur says... #10
Just got an urge to Bestow an activated Haunted Plate Mail with a flashed-in Boon Satyr . For the lulz.
January 21, 2014 10:53 p.m.
NobodyPicksBulbasaur says... #11
Ral seems better than Hidden Strings , but just barely. He just plain comes out too slow for what he does. Maybe if you go turbo devotion mode and use him to untap Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx .
January 21, 2014 10:55 p.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #12
I really like Haunted Plate Mail too. It's such a lulz card. I'm also waiting for Sedge Scorpion and Giant Adephage to get the respect I think they deserve.
January 21, 2014 11 p.m.
ChrisHansonBiomancin says... #13
Sedge Scorpion is a strict downgrade from Wasteland Viper so it definitely won't during this block at least, but I could see Giant Adephage getting there if Reanimator becomes popular, though he also gets a boost from Xenagos, God of Revels .
January 21, 2014 11:29 p.m.
JogandoPelado says... #14
I think Strionic Resonator is very underplayed, it have a lot of combos like infinite turns with Medomai the Ageless and combos well with Giant Adephage
January 22, 2014 5:48 a.m.
Quadsimotto says... #15
Fade into Antiquity with all these indestructible gods will get mainboarded in some mono green decks.
Expect some people to run bug mill decks using Tower Defense
And with the new INSPIRED Triton Tactics is going to see a lot of play.
January 22, 2014 6:39 a.m.
JogandoPelado: depends on how you use it. maybe some people find Illusionist's Bracers more efficient?
January 22, 2014 7:05 a.m.
JogandoPelado says... #17
cr14mson I think both cards are eficient and don't see much play, but Strionic Resonator is best since Illusionist's Bracers only works with creatures.
January 22, 2014 7:58 a.m.
After seeing of what some of you guys are saying, I think Strionic Resonator will see play to make xenagod's triggered ability even more scary than it is already.
January 22, 2014 9:29 a.m.
This isn't Theros, but when will Plummet get some SB time?
January 22, 2014 9:39 a.m.
ChrisHansonBiomancin says... #20
Awesome Strionic Resonator triggers; you may some widely-played cards here:Chained to the Rocks , Detention Sphere , Boros Reckoner , Assemble the Legion is disgustingly good, Medomai the Ageless as was already mentioned, Aurelia, the Warleader , Archangel of Thune , Firemane Avenger , Kalonian Hydra , Lifebane Zombie , Gray Merchant of Asphodel , Fanatic of Mogis . Primeval Bounty , Wild Beastmaster , Prime Speaker Zegana , Progenitor Mimic .
Also worth noting is that all of the Dual-colored Gods besides BU have triggered abilities.
Finally, this one is no longer Standard but just too fun to not mention- Huntmaster of the Fells Flip (take your pick- Wolf trigger, Damage trigger, or Transform trigger for a little of both)
I have an Standard American deck that abuses a lot of those- Uncle Sam's Resonations
January 22, 2014 9:45 a.m.
SharuumNyan says... #21
Yep, Boon Satyr definitely. I'm hoping Selesnya will see more play after Born of the Gods, and that card is a staple in G/W right now.
White is going to be used more, especially Spear of Heliod .
And maybe even Bant will see more action. Prophet of Kruphix is the greatest card, and it's just waiting for an opportunity to shine.
January 22, 2014 11 a.m.
ChrisHansonBiomancin says... #22
Both Bant and Selesnya are getting big boosts in BotG simply due to getting their Scry lands.
I love Prophet of Kruphix , but I have a hard time calling it a sleeper since it seems to get a lot of love at the FNM level even if not on the Pro tour. At least that's the case at my LGS, as we had a recent FNM in which 3 of the Top 8 decks used it, including my creature-heavy GU Devotion deck- My Prophet, Your Loss (Top 4 FNM). Also, someone got first place at a tournament with a Bant Control list that used some cool stuff like Plasm Capture and Primeval Bounty . I love how the Prophet can be used in such a wide variety of decks.
January 22, 2014 11:22 a.m.
SharuumNyan says... #23
It's great that Prophet of Kruphix is seeing play at your LGS. It's been mostly ignored because it didn't make it into any of the big deck archetypes.
I tried and tried to brew up a good Bant list when Theros arrived, but it was never successful. It got run out of town by devotion decks and Pack Rat . I'm going to give it another try now though.
January 22, 2014 11:27 a.m.
Schuesseled says... #24
Stormbreath Dragon is already quite popular, but I honestly don't see why it isn't getting more expensive. Probably because of all the mono decks. But that will change, mark my words....
January 22, 2014 3:19 p.m.
JogandoPelado says... #26
Think Ruric Thar, the Unbowed is a pain for every control deck, and i don't see it played in most of gruul decks, 6 damage for play noncreaturre spells is great, and he have a big body to.
January 23, 2014 5:29 a.m.
VampireArmy says... #27
I think Satyr Firedancer will come to be a good RDW for both Standard and Modern.
January 31, 2014 3:21 p.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #28
@ VampireArmy, Satyr Firedancer won't be used very much in modern. People will want to use him, but his effect is very lacking. If it was the reverse; whenever a sorcery or instant spell you control deals damage to a creature an opponent controls, Satyr Firedancer deals that much damage to that creature's controller; I think it would be used a lot more, because this means you can focus on control and still do damage. However, as he is now, he won't be very useful as something like Pyroclasm does the same thing, but does it faster and better. Ohthenoises asked me about this one and I'll copy what I sent him for my thoughts on the card.
They key point is the creature part. Which means it supplements as a creature removal in RDW. However, the method of which it does it, is too slow for what you are going to be using it for. Mass-board wipes. In this case, a wipe like Pyroclasm is much better as you are killing everything you want in that turn, whereas Satyr Firedancer requires additional spells to do the SAME THING.
Now wipes also bring us to the second problem. Hexproof. A Pyroclasm can deal with hexproof, but Satyr Firedancer can not. And if we look at other forms of wipes like Anger of the Gods , wipes can also deal with graveyard shenanigans. Once again, Satyr Firedancer , can not.
Finally, we have a third problem. And that is the current status of Satyr Firedancer . It is a enchantment creature. Which means every single colour has an answer to it. Whereas Pyroclasm , only has to worry about protection, regeneration and counterspells.
February 1, 2014 12:10 a.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #29
Personally, I want Hero of Iroas to become popular, as I suspect voltron decks to see rise.
February 1, 2014 1 a.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #30
I mean you also have Vanguard of Brimaz and Brimaz, King of Oreskos in there too. Hell, this could probably be Voltron-Devotion ...
shit, I think I should get working on that before anyone else does. This will be my first standard deck ever.
February 1, 2014 1:04 a.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #31
May I also mention that it could potentially counter Mono-B devotion and face off equally with Mono-U devotion?
February 1, 2014 1:06 a.m.
VampireArmy says... #32
Femme_Fatale - I see where you're coming from but ultimately it makes decisions for life vs creature usage a non problem, something burn has sought to do for the beginning of the game. In my own tribal flames burn he has been an all star and outside of the opponent simply lacking a creature to kill, has been a wonderful 4-of slot to the deck and has taken on his share of opponents.
February 1, 2014 1:46 a.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #33
Yes that is true VampireArmy, but the draw-backs out-weigh the benefits. He is practically pointless against aggro decks in which that he doesn't kill enough fast enough. He only becomes active turn 3, and by then your opponents can have 4-6 creatures out and have dealt significant damage to you already. He is also terrible against the mirror. Thus Pyroclasm works in those cases.
He is terrible against the hexproof decks that are around because he can't target them, thus Pyroclasm gets around those.
His main shine is against BUG or Jund, where it is easy to kill your opponent's little creatures that are hitting you for a few a turn, however he is incredibly easy to remove, which makes him not very strong in those situations.
You also have to consider this: Do I want to play a creature that just stalls my death, or do I want to play a spell that wins me the game? Satyr Firedancer will probably see sideboard play, but because it never actually helps you win, it won't see much main-board play.
February 1, 2014 2:04 a.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #34
That last point there is exactly the reason why I say he would have been much better if his text was reversed. That way he does become a card that wins you the game, not in this case in which he's just a slow creature removal.
February 1, 2014 2:12 a.m.
VampireArmy says... #35
Femme_Fatale I suppose we have a difference in opinion then. Nothing wrong with that. Like I said, in my personal experience playing the card online against other serious decks, it has done it's job very well. Though I agree it won't ever touch a hexproof creature alone and not any burn spell will anyways. Pyroclasm certainly does what it needs to but normally will fall short against any midrange deck playing anything above 2 toughness which nowdays is almost everything in a mid range setting If hexproof were a problem i'd probably be Sbing some Glaring Spotlight or something. Overall I'm convinced Satyr Firedancer is enormously under rated right now but I see the potential which I suppose is the point of the thread anyways right? Cards that will probably one day take off or maybe see more play than they do now. In any case (Oh dear I'm rambling now) I do agree that the text would be better stating that the damage dealt to creatures are also dealt to players but that would be like an OP Boros Reckoner which is pretty strong as it is.
February 1, 2014 2:15 a.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #36
Since I said Voltron decks were going to be more popular with Hero of Iroas , then Whelming Wave would be control's sideboard for it. Hell, Whelming Wave would probably be used anyways to counter anti-U/hexproof decks.
February 1, 2014 3:55 a.m.
Scourge of Skola Vale possibility. use its sac. ability on a Worldspine Wurm . make it a 17/17 trample and get 3, 5/5 wurms with trample
February 1, 2014 4:30 p.m.
Enlightened_Jedi says... #38
ThatBlueMage do you have a link to that UR deck? I wouldn't mind seeing what his list consisted of because I am pyromancer fan as well.
February 2, 2014 8:02 a.m.
Servo_Token says... #39
http://www.metagame.it/liste-mazzi-modern/1375-modern-top-16-grand-prix-praga.html
3rd deck down
February 2, 2014 8:23 a.m.
I think Steam Augury will see play after shinx's rev leaves standard
February 2, 2014 9:16 p.m.
Weston Ayarza says... #42
Does anybody see the tremendous value in Eidolon of Countless Battles ? This thing seems pretty bonkers to me. 3 mana for an x/x for creatures seems good in weenie decks, but also a tacked on Ethereal Armor that you can't get 2for 1'd? I remember zendikar standard, before all the U/w decks took over, but a weenie deck that ran 4 copies of Armored Ascension and several Kazandu Blademaster s and Ethersworn Canonist destroyed fnms. Spirit of the Labyrinth seems like the new ethersworn. Does White weenie have a footing in standard?
Servo_Token says... #2
First off, if it's a sleeper card, no one knows about it. If we knew about it, it wouldn't be a sleeper card.
Though to answer your question, i'm waiting for Young Pyromancer to take off, either as a standard or eternal staple card. It's already started to see some play, there was a guy in one of these last few GPs that took a UR Pyromancer deck to the top 8, but it's still considered a fringe card in just about every format.
January 21, 2014 11:13 a.m.