Super Secret Sunday 15: New Tech

Well hello! Welcome to Super Secret Sunday! The space/time continuum event wherein we talk about under played cards, under the radar strategies, and under-thought thoughts! I am Grandpa Growth and today we are going to talk about new tech. Instead of secret tech, you see. I have, over the last couple weeks since the prerelease, been playing against the new Gatecrash cards and I have two standouts that I would like to share with you.

So among in the post-Gatecrash EDH scene, Momir Vig has made out like a bandit. I raved in the set review about many of the new cards and how they fit into this archetype, but one in particular has really grabbed my attention.

This piece of junk may have the ugliest art and the wonkiest flavor, but dadgummit...it sure is powerful. Winged Coatl and Mystic Snake had long stood as the staple instant speed tutor effects in this archetype. Both of which are insanely powerful in there own right. In a vacuum you might even think that both of these cards are superior to Shambleshark. The Commander format isn't a vacuum though. It is defined by consistency, powerful threats, and advantageous interaction. Momir Vig has these qualities in spades. Consistency? How about 20-30 tutor effects in your deck. Power? How about having access to format defining threats AND counter magic. Interacting favorably with your opponent? Well, that tends to be easy when you can search for whatever you need out of your deck. So...what am I hinting at exactly? That El Shamblerino here is better in Vig decks than Mystic Snake or Winged Coatl (the archetype STAPLES)? You bet. This only costs two. It is the actual instant speed DT. Better yet, Flash usually generates card advantage. Ambush their attackers, protect your threat from counter magic, leave up counters of your own. It is really easy to win when your creatures have this level of versatility and power. Those qualities are all true of Coatl and Snake though. So what is the difference? Evolve. Shambleshark presents the threat of a reasonable clock. In Vig decks, you play creatures on nearly every turn. Pumping Shambleshark is easy when you have easy access to a constant stream of bigger and bigger threats. This is a tutor that puts a legitimate threat into play and generates immediate card advantage. I cannot understate how incredible this is.

So, for a while, I was living in the past. RTR didn't bring to many fun cards to the Commander tables. Most of the good stuff was niche archetype playables like Deathrite Shaman or Sphinx's revelation. I stand by my earlier prediction that instantly winning by having 20+ artifacts is a pipe dream. However, winning through the immediate card advantage of stealing relevant permanents and consistently pressuring with a reasonable clock? That is real game. I made a serious mistake in a recent game against a friend. I forgot to play around this card. In my defense, I didn't expect it to be played, since it is so new. I learned my lesson. This card, with the unexpected bonus of Haste, is a serious beating. Losing track of your shoes? Gut-wrenching. Losing control of a Sword or a Jitte? Game ending.

On a somewhat related note, hellkite is another in a long list of reasons why I CANNOT, in good conscience, promote playing mana producing artifacts in Commander. Sol Ring is obligatory. Grim is recommended. Bathsalts MonolithBathsalts monolith is acceptable, but if you are going deep (shallow) for something like Mind Stone (as I am oft to do), you are now BEGGING to be punished.

I severely underestimated this card. This has legitimate implications in every constructed format. In aggressive decks: you're opponent is denied at least one turn of locking opportunities. In control: Haste is irrelevant. The best part: Extort is relevant in both archetypes. Gaining 4-6 life a game is a tangible bonus. Doming your opponent for 4-6 life a game is often a whole turn off of your clock. This kind of reach is tough to find, even without relevant abilities attached AND the flexibility to use it whenever you want. Unfortunately, this card has few implications for or against combo decks, but you cant get everything you want for two mana. This is enough card for me and I am a harsh critic.

Alright, well that is all for this week children. I hope all you Zoners are having a good time experimenting with the new cards; trying them out in all sorts of formats. I will be back soon with more content, so look forward to new Ill-Gotten Games action as well as a special video playlist about the 10 ticket challenge on MTGO!

Pass it up.