Sandsteppe Mastodon! Fate Reforged!
Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum
Posted on Dec. 18, 2014, 3:14 a.m. by Haxxzor
Link
Can't find a bigger picture, found posted on an MTG group on Facebook
Sandsteppe Mastodon
Creature - Elephant
Reach
When Sandsteppe Mastodon enters the battlefield, Bolster 5 (Choose a creature with the least toughness or tied with the least toughness among creatures you control. Put 5 +1/+1 counters on it.)
10 power and toughness on a 5 drop? Yeh because that's fair.
December 28, 2014 4:37 a.m.
Thought about, that this card stops Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker, Wingmate Roc and Stormbreath Dragon? If that card was a 5 drop.... It would not be fair...
December 28, 2014 5:14 a.m.
It doesn't even die to removal either because obviously it's usually giving the buff to something else, so you're always guaranteed at LEAST a 5/6 (given a 0/1 creature receiving the buff) even if they use a removal spell. That's really decent.
December 28, 2014 6:27 a.m.
IndepenentMeta says... #5
Do you even use common sense when you post? Ok watch let me break it down for you. It's turn five I went first in turn five I dropped nothing cause mastodon is two mana higher. You drop sarkhan swing for life points I drop my six land. Your sarkhan is still at large swing with sarkhan. I drew my seven land, surprise! It's a tapped land....
Did you notice that all those things you posted up are five drops? Is it fair to me that you get creators with flying possibly 3 turns earlier than I can get something with reach? This thing had the potential to replace arbor colossus in the meta game. But I guess the company didn't want anything to do with that
December 28, 2014 9:19 a.m.
IndepenentMeta says... #6
@cheif bell it could've been more than decent had they followed the instructions.....
December 28, 2014 9:21 a.m.
IndepenentMeta says... #7
@cheif bell bro trust me I have a secret team that does this kinda test playing. It's suppose to target something else for the five counter. Something like a mystic or a satyr wayfinder that way they have some defense on they own. Even then a 10 for 5 drop isn't too bad if you have something with death touche or the prams kill spell
December 28, 2014 9:26 a.m.
If your playing green, and cant drop this guy before turn 8, your playing wrong. js. With any ramp, this can easily be dropped turn 6 or earlier.
December 28, 2014 9:43 a.m.
Named_Tawyny says... #9
@IndepenentMeta, you're right. The Mastodon's third ability "If Sandsteppe Mastadon is in your hand, you cannot cast spells until it is on the battlefield" is what really makes this card unplayable.
sigh
December 28, 2014 9:49 a.m.
IndepenentMeta says... #10
Bro you just don't get it.... So I'm not gonna explain
December 28, 2014 9:50 a.m.
IndepenentMeta says... #11
@named_tawyny I know right and that wait till the seventh turn. Forget bout it...
December 28, 2014 9:55 a.m.
Unsure if stupid or troll or just impossible to understand.
December 28, 2014 10:09 a.m.
To be fair it might just be my own inability to understand that written english.
December 28, 2014 10:25 a.m.
Named_Tawyny says... #15
Mine was, obviously (I hope), sarcastic. His response? Wow. Mind = Blown.
December 28, 2014 10:34 a.m.
IndepenentMeta says... #16
Don't be stupid, ud be stupid if you excepted this shit.
December 28, 2014 10:40 a.m.
IndepenentMeta says... #17
I'm making calls Monday morning.... I can't have my friends play a stupid card like this
December 28, 2014 10:44 a.m.
IndepenentMeta - let's try this, are you familiar with the vanilla test?
December 28, 2014 10:51 a.m.
IndepenentMeta - OK, the vanilla test is a "test" you can use to evaluate creatures. A creature passes the test if it has as much power as ita CMC (converted mana cost). So Nessian Courser passes the vanilla test because it's a 3/3 for 3. Now a creature is above the test if it has more P/T than its CMC. So, as printed, the mastodon is a 5/5 for 7 with reach, which is kind of meh. But it also comes with 5 more power, making it essentially a 10/10 for 7. This already makes it pass the vanilla test with flying colors. Now a 5 mana 10/10 would just be insane and would need some sort of downside in order to be printed. While through vanilla test isn't a hard-and-fast rule, it's a good tool to check and make sure a creature isn't busted, like your 5 mana version is.
December 28, 2014 11:18 a.m.
IndepenentMeta says... #21
I totally understand what your trying to tell me but the mana cost and the stats aren't the only thing you should be measuring your monsters by when you play magic. Let me put it to you this way
Let's say he came out printed like he was suppose to. Nobody tried to hinder stats or nerf effects. So Orginally the card was suppose to look like this
Mastodon(2xG)(3xCL)Reach
When this card enters the battle field you may chose another creature to gain 5 1/1 counters. 5/5
While being able to bring out an extra beatstick might seem broken there's alot of downsides that balance it out.
Factor 1: if there isn't another face up creature and this card is a top deck it would become just a 5/5 vanilla for 5Factor 2: with it's 5/5 stat bringing he clashes with anything thats 5/5 butcher of the horde, the god cards, and not to mention whatever new meta card they might releaseFactor 3: kill spells at seven cmc you would have to tapp yourself out to summon this Creature. Kill spells or board whipes can eliminate this target. At least at 5 cmc you would have a chance for a gods willing or Desdainful stroke by the 6-7 turn.
This new print is just proof that wizards of the coast wouldn't recognize talent of it hit em in the face
December 28, 2014 11:42 a.m.
IndepenentMeta says... #22
I call it the chocolate test to see of cards are sweet or a waste of time
December 28, 2014 11:43 a.m.
I think this is the guy who claimed wizards was stealing his ideas. I'll get some popcorn, we'll be at this awhile.
December 28, 2014 11:47 a.m.
A 5/5 for 5, isn't a down side. It's just fine.
Clashing with other 5 power creatures isn't a downside. This is like saying a downside of any creatures is that it can be beaten by other creatures.....uh no? That's almost completely irrelevant when you consider he other stuff it dies - ie. distribute 5 +1/+1 counters.
It doesn't die to kilspells because it distributes counters to another creature, that's like the whole point of the bloody card, and is precisely WHY it can't cost 5 mana.
December 28, 2014 11:51 a.m.
The point is that you're not supposed to get twice as much power for your CMC. 10 power for 5 is INSANE regardless of how it's spread out. Look at Death's Shadow a 13/13 for 
, but it has a SEVERE downside because on turn 1 it isn't a 13/13. Or look at Desecration Demon, a 6/6 flyer for 4, which should cost at least 7, but exists at 4 with a drawback.
December 28, 2014 11:54 a.m.
julianjmoss says... #28
@chiefbell this is the guy that thinks wizards is stealing from him. I enjoy watching the argument but you should know that you won't gain any traction in the discussion
December 28, 2014 11:58 a.m.
IndepenentMeta says... #29
Yeah surprise! This is another one of my cards.......
December 28, 2014 12:02 p.m.
IndepenentMeta says... #30
@cheifbell the point of saying that's a downside means it balances it out.
Your never suppose to double up and have trample damage but in some cases a 10/10 is pretty easy to deal with. I mean if your a good player.
The point being is that this card wasn't able to target its self for the 10/10 that why he can stay at 5/5 for 5 and have a badass partner to chill with in stalemate wayfinders.
Idk how to explain that uh more clear?
December 28, 2014 12:05 p.m.
The version you suggested is still pretty broken. Wolfir Silverheart was pretty powerful and had a more significant downside AND was smaller. The downside that if Wolfir died the other creature lost the buff too was balanced. If it distributed counters it would not be balanced. They'd never print that, ever. You're not listening. Wizards will NEVER print a 5 mana card that can distribute 10 power onto the board without a large downside.
December 28, 2014 12:07 p.m.
lemmingllama says... #32
A 5/5 for 5 mana with reach is a good card for limited. On top of that, the fact that it gives 5 +1/+1 counters to another creature is just broken. Even if there is no other creature, it would still be a good draft creature. There is no downside to the Bolster ability, even if it fizzled then you would still have a cheap creature that kills Siege Rhinos and Butcher of the Hordes. Wizards was right to put this at 7, especially since it has synergy with Sage of Hours to give extra turns.
December 28, 2014 12:11 p.m.
IndepenentMeta says... #33
Ugh that's the thing that I hate bout this card game too many things had horrid downsides. I'm here to free you from that. Or at least I'm trying....
Just look at yugioh they've been managing to make they re stuff with less restrictions And the meta has been coming out great. Idk if your familliar with something called stellaknights? That's the arch type where they re letting stuff flow and the cards have the most amazing syngery in the game right now. Along with their counter part shaddoll n BA. Anyways this ain't yugioh but I don't see why you guys have to play with the most nerfed shit on the planet while we get our stuff nice and fruity
December 28, 2014 12:12 p.m.
IndepenentMeta says... #34
The point to this whole escapade is that your not suppose to have too many downsides. Otherwise you get in consistent crap like our world winning deck sultai
December 28, 2014 12:13 p.m.
I've heard from multiple sources that yugioh has the most busted degenerate meta of any card game. It also has a smaller audience. Proof of the pudding is in the eating - it can't be better because nobody bloody plays it. I'd happy to listen to how great another card game was if the proof was there that people enjoyed it, but given that customers aren't flocking to play the game it can't be that great haha.
Wizards aren't nerfing shit because the card never existed. Nerving is when you take something already released in a game and weaken it. That does ruin metas. What Wizards do is just avoid releasing overpowered crap - that's very different, and very fine.
You should read more about video game design, because you're comments portray you as clueless.
December 28, 2014 12:17 p.m.
Sultai's not the most played deck in any magic format......
December 28, 2014 12:18 p.m.
IndepenentMeta says... #38
Yugioh has the faster meta, stronger cards, and has a good amount of players. Hell everyone I know including janitors n mail men know how to play yugioh. It's just very unrated and overly hate. But I assure you it's a gem stone when you get to making those badass plays with out the infamous restriction known as mana.We have other restrictions in the game. In case your wondering.
Ok let me put it to you this way what's easier to deal with a full fledge god that could possibly by 7/5 or a 6/6 vanilla. Which is really more treating to the board state?
And nerfing also would include if in the develope process where the card was actually first designed. Was changed to match some crappy standards then that's considered to be a nerf
Here let me narrow it down for your little chimp brain
What's better more meta 5 drop or less meta 5 drops?
December 28, 2014 12:26 p.m.
IndepenentMeta says... #39
Do you even read? I said worlds winning where one of the chosen players took it to worlds and best yalls favorite deck abzan.....
That's what I said....
December 28, 2014 12:28 p.m.
IndepenentMeta says... #41
Lol that's why you shouldn't be skipping class it's effected your vision
December 28, 2014 1:03 p.m.
Ah the irony of accusing me of skipping class with such a top grasp of the English language.
Screenshotted.
December 28, 2014 1:07 p.m.
IndepenentMeta says... #43
Lol good you can read that later and maybe it will make sense later in the format
December 28, 2014 1:18 p.m.
Trying to change mtg so that it has busted cards is just stupid. If you want a whole lot of broken crap stick with yugioh.
December 28, 2014 2:10 p.m.
IndepenentMeta says... #46
Yeah that's exactly why I decided to change a couple of things around. So you guys won't be playing with busted cards.......
Trust me dude it's not as bad as you think and it adds more options to the meta game. Right now by making cost 7 it's gonna be a tech card at one. Which sucks cause he could've been pretty badass at 3-4
December 28, 2014 3:26 p.m.
IndepenentMeta: Sandsteppe Mastodon is sooooooo gooood. Now look at Bronze Sable. What do you see? A 2/1 with nothing. For 2 mana. And it is colorless. This is sooooooo broken. It's played in almost all Pro tour decks, because it's soooooo splashable.
So this insane card doesn't pass the vanilla test. But it is still good. Now Sandsteppe Mastodon is overly good. This gives you more power and thoughness than it has in mana. This will be played in modern, i can assure you. In every modern deck, except mono white weenies. Because, it's mono white. But this is ALSO green, so it can be splashed with so easily! I think it will see play in mono green devotion in modern, cause that deck is winning everything right now.
December 28, 2014 3:29 p.m.
Oh, and Stormbreath Dragon is really bad. Cause it doesn't pass the vanilla test. It should have a mana cost of 2. I'm coming here to open all your people eyes. All people just can't see how bad this card is. It can just be blocked with a creature with flying! How bad is that?!?!?!?
December 28, 2014 3:31 p.m.
I don't think IndepenentMeta knows what "busted" means. Busted means broken, game changing, and that every deck should be playing it even if they shouldn't. Yugioh is know for having a busted Metagame full of combo decks and zero interaction. Beyond that, magic is at a good spot right now with the right amount of power. You just want power creep, and then eventually Ancestral Recall would be a bad card. And no one, NO ONE, wants that.
IndepenentMeta says... #1
This was suppose to be a five drop....
Ugh thanks alot wizards for messing up yet another create a card that had meta potential
December 27, 2014 10:55 p.m.