An interesting throught on the manifest mechanic...
Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum
Posted on Dec. 30, 2014, 1:43 p.m. by TheAnnihilator
So, I was reading a spoiler article by MaRo (the specific article doesn't matter to the topic) and I came across this quote:
"Manifest is an ability that allows you to take cards from different zones (although most often the library) and put them onto the battlefield face-down."
Does this mean we might be able to manifest exiled cards? I like the idea of stealing back a creature exiled with Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver before the opponent gets the chance to cast it. Or Banishing Light. What do you think?
TheAnnihilator says... #3
@Rasta_Viking29
Doesn't that card basically say "Manifest the top card of your library"? I don't see how else you would exile cards into a face-down pile.
December 30, 2014 1:50 p.m.
TheAnnihilator says... #4
Nvrmind, I should just RTFC. It also exiles itself.
December 30, 2014 1:51 p.m.
We definitely AREN'T getting a card that manifests cards from exile. There is very little MaRo hates more than getting cards back from Exile, like Runic Repetition, and that would be exactly that effect. Jeskai Infiltrator is fine, because the card is initially coming from your library, not exiled by something like Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver or Banishing Light.
December 30, 2014 1:51 p.m.
CommanderOfBolas says... #6
It does, but you manifest the infiltrator as well. the shuffling them is suppose to make it difficult to tell which one is which, so they don't just kill the infiltrator right away
December 30, 2014 1:52 p.m.
Rasta_Viking29 says... #7
Both cards are exiled and then manifested from the exile zone.
December 30, 2014 1:55 p.m.
TheAnnihilator says... #8
Yes, both they originated from the battlefield and library. I mean things that are genuinely exiled. Think unearth and Detention Sphere. Maybe even Serum Powder.
December 30, 2014 1:58 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #9
Exiling two cards and manifesting them is fundamentally different from manifesting a card that was already in exile.
December 30, 2014 2 p.m.
see my earlier comment TheAnnihilator, that kind of effect is NOT going to happen.
December 30, 2014 2:06 p.m.
TheAnnihilator says... #11
But.. But... I want it to happen JWiley129!
I do see your point, though. Also, maybe Wizards will slip something in past MaRo... (likely not.)
Anyways, it is just a though. You can take it as you will.
December 30, 2014 2:10 p.m.
I know you do TheAnnihilator, but it's just not what you want to do. Also, if I was going to make a card like that I would make it VERY expensive so it couldn't be abused. Like 6-7 mana.
December 30, 2014 2:14 p.m.
SimicPower says... #14
@TheAnnihilator Wizards slipped Hornet Queen past Maro, so it has been known to happen.
December 30, 2014 2:16 p.m.
Nigeltastic says... #15
Well Maro wasn't leading design on m15 so it wasn't quite his call about the queen.
December 30, 2014 2:47 p.m.
omnipotato says... #16
JWiley129 I don't think it would be that expensive. It would only be used in very specific situations. It would basically be "Counter target spell that exiles a card" or "destroy target permanent that exiles a card" both of which aren't very powerful effects since they're so specific. Plus you don't even get your creature back right away, you still have to pay its mana cost.
However, I don't want them to make that effect anyway. I'm used to "exiled" meaning "removed from the game" like it used to and I'd rather not think about it any other way.
December 30, 2014 3:56 p.m.
omnipotato - The reason why I think it has to be that expensive is so it doesn't break Vintage with Yawgmoth's Will or Legacy/Modern Storm decks that utilize flashback like Past in Flames.
December 30, 2014 3:59 p.m.
SimicPower hahaha I don't know if you meant that as a joke about Hornet Queen flying over Maro but I thought it was funny nonetheless.
December 30, 2014 3:59 p.m.
omnipotato says... #19
"Manifest one card that you own in exile" wouldn't break anything, even if it was 2 or 3 CMC. Now if it said "Manifest ALL cards in exile" that would be a different story.
December 30, 2014 4:08 p.m.
omnipotato - Oh yeah, "manifest all cards in exile" is much more broken than "Manifest a card you own in exile". However it should be at least 4-5 mana imo, because of what I mentioned above in getting back a Yawgmoth's Will and/or getting around a card like Banishing Light.
December 30, 2014 4:17 p.m.
omnipotato says... #21
If you got back a Yawgmoth's Will you couldn't play it. Manifest only allows creatures to be turned face up. In the case of Banishing Light, Naturalize would be better. You would actually get your creature back. Manifesting the exiled card would mean you get a 2/2 then you still have to pay the mana cost of the creature.
December 30, 2014 4:32 p.m.
I'd be happy to see just things manifested from the graveyard, hand... Maybe from the stack, ie "manifest target spell."
December 30, 2014 6:15 p.m.
omnipotato says... #23
Ooh that would be cool. It could double as a counterspell, and put an opponent's spell under your control as a creature (and if it is a creature you could turn it face up!), or use it to save your creature from being destroyed.
December 30, 2014 7 p.m.
Yeah, it would be pretty powerful to manifest a creature spell because you could flip it and suddenly, worse Spelljack. That effect would probably cost at least 
.
However, something like "manifest target noncreature spell" could be more reasonably priced at 
or 
. Then it's basically Negate/Grizzly Bears since you get no value from the manifested spell except a vanilla 2/2. Like a conditional Mystic Snake, which is actually my most wanted reprint for Standard right now.
Rasta_Viking29 says... #2
December 30, 2014 1:45 p.m.