New Azban Ability, "Outlast"
Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum
Posted on Aug. 31, 2014, 12:25 a.m. by LordOfDispair
So this new ability is basically, a creature can tap and pay mana to get a +1/+1 counter. On the one they spoiled, it activated an ability.
Will we see an number of -1/-1 counters or effects? It seems like it would be really, really cool to have a theme of creatures growing and outlasting a plague.
Where do you think the ability where go?
http://mythicspoiler.com/
We won't see -1/-1 counters as WOTC believe that having both types of counters will confuse new players, and it messes up design.
August 31, 2014 3:54 a.m.
scopesightzx says... #4
I do like how this mechanic deals with +1/+1 counters, as two of their colors (g/w) kind of overlap into heroic territory. Solidarity of Heroes could be interesting with this mechanic.
August 31, 2014 4:06 a.m.
BlastercoolWeird says... #5
CharonSquared, I think that is the point. You have to manage your defenses when outlasting, and makes sense with the flavor that your creature is hunkering down to get tougher while you outlast their absence.
From a gameplay perspective it would be incredibly frustrating to play against a deck where most of their creatures can be like "okay, block, tap, pump, kill your guy because you didn't play around my ALL of my creatures having a built-in pump ability"
August 31, 2014 10:02 a.m.
SimicPower says... #6
I am not a real fan of this mechanic. The flavor seems kind of off, because when you activate outlast, the defensive ability, you lose the ability to block with that creature for a turn. I would have preferred instant speed. I also don't see this being constructed playable, as you could sink a ton of mana into one creature to have it killed by one Hero's Downfall for three mana.
It should be fun it limited though!
August 31, 2014 10:14 a.m.
At Instant speed Outlast has no strategic potential whatsover. You just do it either at end of turn or when blocking, unless you have something better to do. There's no strategy there, just a right choice and a misplay.
Whereas at sorcery speed, the strategy is fascinating. Can you afford to take a hit this turn and rely on your other blockers and/or life total? Is the ability worth it?
And the flavour's pretty solid, considering the Abzan are supposed to be highly linked to community and working together.
August 31, 2014 12:40 p.m.
BlastercoolWeird says... #8
yeah deworde puts it into words better than I could. obviously it would be better if it didn't require tapping or sorcery speed, but limitation is what gives the mechanic strategy and makes it interesting
August 31, 2014 12:52 p.m.
Since the only card we've seen is a common, and effectively is a 3/2 first striker for 4 mana, isn't terrible. It's not great, but it does leave a little hope that there could be some rares worthwhile. They could have it on low drops to make aggro decks have a bit more steam into the mid-game, but we'll just have to see.
August 31, 2014 1:27 p.m.
The card spoiled is like a mini Archetype of Courage . For 2 mana it's quite welcome I think. In limited, as a common - its ridiculously good.
The best thing about it is that when you activate its ability it gives you a chump blocker so you know that you still have a safe blocker. It's great.
CharonSquared says... #2
The ability looks pretty boring to me. Sorcery speed reduces its strategic potential and means that you can't block with it, then activate the ability to grow it.
August 31, 2014 12:31 a.m.