Thoughts on Awaken (New Mechanic in BFZ)
Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum
Posted on Aug. 26, 2015, 8:26 p.m. by Absinthman
Hi everyone! I'm sure you've all seen the cards spoiled for BFZ in the Vs pack which let us glimpse into things to come. I've scanned through the threads in this forum but I couldn't find any discussions about Awaken yet. So here it is, I'm creating it.
I personally really dig this thing. As almost exclusively a limited player, this is exactly the thing I love to see in a set. In draft or sealed, a card like the spoiled one (Sheer Drop) is good on its own, but add the option to cast it for 
when you've got the mana and nothing else to do... sweet! I really hope that they also print creatures with Awaken which would help low drops become relevant in the late game. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely because that would require a change, however minor, in the rules text to something like: "If you cast this spell for [cost], as it becomes a permanent, also put...", but I can still hope, right...
The only thing that I don't like about these kinds of effects in general is that I always get this "could have been done with kicker" feeling. But I guess it's streamlined enough so that it warrants its own keyword.
So what do you guys think?
Absinthman says... #3
Yes, exactly what I've been thinking. And I've been looking at the mechanic exclusively from the liited perspective. However, It might be playable in constructed too, but it will very much depend on the actual cards printed.
August 26, 2015 8:35 p.m.
I really like it, and hope that they don't overcost the Awaken costs through the clouds. I want this to be like Kicker - hard to get, but not unachievable.
August 26, 2015 8:35 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #5
I absolutely love the flavor. That specific card is definitely not constructed playable (maaaaybe as a one-of), but if we get some actual useful cards with that kind of effect...
August 26, 2015 8:53 p.m.
Hmm... this may not work on the stack like I'm thinking, but I'd like to see something like:
~Cardname~
Sorcery
Target creature you control gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
Awaken 
-- 3
This is basically an early-game pump spell that can become a 5/5 Haste creature in the later game. And that land creature would be a 3/3 from there on out for extra value.
I love Awaken as a mechanic because it's so flexible and able to do so many things, such as the example I made above. Who knows what shenanigans are in store for us in BFZ? :D
August 26, 2015 10:01 p.m.
Rasta_Viking29 says... #7
We should see Awaken on a Standard playable card or two, they're essentially split cards. Options are always good and as long as the default spell is reasonable that should make it playable. I could see a ramp or burn spell being really good with Awaken. Constructed costed unconditional removal with Awaken might be a thing at 7cmc and up. I'm a fan.
August 26, 2015 10:03 p.m.
RoarMaster says... #8
Has any card that turns your land into creatures ever been good? I cant really think of any myself. Hunting Wilds is probably the closest comparison to Awakening, and its not even really playable.
August 26, 2015 10:20 p.m.
omnipotato says... #9
I remember Genju of the Falls being played in standard to an extent.
August 26, 2015 11:19 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #10
What's great about it in limited is it lets you flood out a little more and rebound right back with spells you're likely to play anyways (we hope)
August 27, 2015 12:02 a.m.
Absinthman says... #11
@JDMCRIB: That wouldn't work unfortunately. You wold have to choose the target for the spell before your land actually becomes a creature. So +2/+2 has to target something else.
@VampireArmy: +1 that.
August 27, 2015 1:32 a.m.
There are numerous great things available in just one mechanic:
- It does not untap the land. I assume it is specifically to make Awaken techinically cost one less, but that means the haste is kind of wasted.
- You can have any spell with awaken, even creatures like Awakener Druid. Very versatile.
- Works incredibly well with manlands like Treetop Village.
- 110% flavor.
- Provides cool decision points in all parts of the game. Acts less like kicker and more like a split card with fuse.
August 27, 2015 3:52 a.m.
RoarMaster says... #13
Boza I dont know man, on the Fuse Vs Kicker?
Fuse allows you three choices for effects(with potentially any two effects in the game), either of the two halves or both, two of which are cheaper than the third.
Kicker only has two choices(with potentially any two effects in the game), one basic cheap one, and an additional effect for more.
Awaken only has two choices(with potentially one of any effect in the game, and one always manland ability), one basic cheap one, and the additional effect of turning your land into a creature for more.
Its basically 'man-landing effect only kicker'. And unlike 'normal' manlands, they stay lands through opponents turns and are vulnerable to sorcery speed removal.
Seems like it would be good in limited, gives some late game umph to make those last pushes. But it seems pretty lacking as fas as design depth goes.
Not a fan myself, but if you are, grab up all them Earth Surges and Darksteel Garrisons for modern if they are not reprinted!
August 27, 2015 5:28 a.m.
Yeah, you are right on that fuse thing.
Oh, forgot to mention the most important aspect of awaken:
- Devoid - all lands have devoid, so they work awesomely with the eldrazi ability devoid. The cool thing for devoid is that morphs are also colorless. I advise you to get more Deathmist Raptor and Den Protector before they spike even more.
I really hope we will have a black spell for limited that says "B: Destroy target creature with CMC of 0."
August 27, 2015 5:47 a.m.
I'm thinking, in a Managorger Hydra/Hangarback Walker deck with Hardened Scales, the Hardened Scales could make for scarier sized 'Awakened' land.
A 4/4 instead of a 3/3 for the additional 
cost seems a fair bit better.
(Of course, it still requires playable spells.)
Ghostfire Blade may be useful as well. :)
Also....
Llanowar Reborn just became slightly more relevant.
August 27, 2015 8 a.m. Edited.
The_Dragonmaster says... #16
I don't like it for only one reason. I was inactive on magic while Zendikar came out so it feels foreign.
August 27, 2015 8:55 a.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #17
I like the idea of this mechanic, but the costs are too expensive for it to be usable on a regular basis.
Also, why does the reminder text for awaken say "if you cast this for ," rather than "if you cast this for its awaken cost?" Would that not make more sense?
-Fulcrum says... #2
Probably powerful in draft. Not sure if playable in constructed.
August 26, 2015 8:33 p.m.