Balduvian Shaman

Artist: Quinton Hoover TCG Player Link Scryfall Link EDHREC Link

what is your fave common and why is it balduvian shaman

So. Knowing that each set will be represented, we have a list to work through (Omitting all reprint sets, like...well...every core set until Magic 2010)  As a list we have (Masters 25 spoilers below the cut, of course.  And please let me know if I missed anything):

Alpha, Beta and Unlimited (They're listed as one in the Magic Site, so this is how I'm counting them: Lightning Bolt, Giant Growth, Dark Ritual, Armageddon, Savannah Lions, Blue Elemental Blast, Red Elemental Blast, Regrowth, Disenchant, Swords to Plowshares, Will-o'-the-Wisp Arabian Knights: Erg Raiders Antiquities: Mishra’s Factory, Primal Clay Legends: Nicol Bolas, Pendelhaven, Hell's Caretaker, Stangg, Fallen Angel The Dark: Ball Lightning, Blood Moon, Ghost Ship Fallen Empires: Goblin War Drums Ice Age: Brainstorm, Pyroclasm Starter 1999: Loyal Sentry, Cinder Storm Portal: Path of Peace Portal Second Age: Ancient Craving Portal Three Kingdoms: Imperial Recruiter, Kongming, "Sleeping Dragon", Borrowing 100,000 Arrows Homelands: Ihsan's Shade Alliances: Pillage, Balduvian Horde, Arcane Denial Mirage: Flash, Pacifism Weatherlight: Doomsday Visions: Man-o'-War, Quicksand Exodus: Merfolk Looter, Curiosity Stronghold: Ensnaring Bridge, Sift, Mogg Flunkies Tempest: Living Death, Kindle, Diabolic Edict, Jackal Pup Urza's Destiny: Elvish Piper, Trumpet Blast Urza's Legacy: Rancor, Unearth Urza's Saga: Lull, Angelic Page, Horseshoe Crab Mercadian Masques: Rishadan Port, Invigorate Nemesis: Accumulated Knowledge, Stampede Driver Prophecy: Plague Wind Invasion: Hanna, Ship’s Navigator, Exclude, Kavu Climber Planeshift: Eladamri’s Call Apocalypse: Vindicate, Mystic Snake, Pernicious Deed, Quicksilver Dagger Odyssey: Zombify, Shadowmage Infiltrator, Auramancer, Caustic Tar Torment: Laquatus's Champion, Mesmeric Fiend Judgment: Living Wish, Browbeat Onslaught: Akroma’s Vengeance, Undead Gladiator, Renewed Faith, Dirge of Dread, Krosan Tusker, Krosan Colossus, Broodhatch Nantuko, Skirk Commando, Choking Tethers Legions: Willbender, Akroma, Angel of Wrath Scourge: Decree of Justice, Fierce Empath, Elvish Aberration, Karona's Zealot, Noble Templar, Shoreline Ranger, Death's-Head Buzzard, Twisted Abomination, Chartooth Cougar Mirrodin: Chalice of the Void, Spikeshot Goblin Darksteel: Sundering Titan, Echoing Courage Fifth Dawn: Relentless Rats Champions of Kamigawa: Nezumi Cutthroat, Azusa, Lost but Seeking Betrayers of Kamigawa: Iwamori of the Open Fist, Genju of the Falls, Genju of the Spires Saviors of Kamigawa: Mikokoro, Center of the Sea, Promise of Bunrei, Freed from the Real Ravnica: City of Guilds: Frenzied Goblin, Watchwolf Guildpact: Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind, Pillory of the Sleepless Dissension: Ratcatcher, Protean Hulk, Utopia Sprawl, Court Hussar Cold Snap: Darien, King of Kjeldor Time Spiral: Brine Elemental, Fathom Seer, Vesuvan Shapeshifter, Fortune Thief, Assemby-Worker Planar Chaos: Akroma, Angel of Fury, Simian Spirit Guide, Kavu Predator, Whitemane Lion Future Sight: Coalition Relic, Pact of Negation, Summoner’s Pact, Street Wraith, Zoetic Cavern Lorwyn: Brion Stoutarm, Soulbright Flamekin Morningtide: Vendilion Clique, Ambassador Oak Shadowmoor: Cursecatcher, Presence of Gond Eventide: Fetid Heath, Flooded Grove, Rugged Prairies, Twilight Mire, Cascade Bluffs, Nettle Sentinel Shards of Alara: Blightning, Skeletonize, Knight of the Skyward Eye Conflux: Conflux, Ember Weaver Alara Reborn: Lorescale Coatl Magic 2010: Master of the Wild Hunt, Act of Treason Zendikar: Luminarch Ascension, Disfigure, Vampire Lacerator Worldwake: Kor Firewalker, Jace, the Mind Sculptor, Arbor Elf Rise of the Eldrazi: Ancient Stirrings, Prophetic Prism, Wildheart Invoker Magic 2011: Plummet, Cultivate, Squadron Hawk, Chandra's Outrage Scars of Mirrodin: Perilous Myr, Nihil Spellbomb, Heavy Arbalest, Twisted Image Mirrodin Besieged: Blue Sun's Zenith New Phyrexia: Phyrexian Obliterator Magic 2012: Swiftfoot Boots, Phantasmal Bear, Crimson Mage Innistrad: Tree of Redemption, Fiend Hunter, Murder of Crows Dark Ascension: Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, Haunted Fengraf Avacyn Restored: Gisela, Blade of Goldnight, Cloudshift Magic 2013: Murder, Timberpack Wolf, Griffin Protector, Bloodhunter Bat Return to Ravnica: Rest in Peace, Fencing Ace Gatecrash: Totally Lost, Boros Charm, Urbis Protector Dragon's Maze: Ruric Thar, the Unbowed, Notion Thief Magic 2014: Strionic Resonator Theros: Bident of Thassa, Gods Willing, Ordeal of Heliod, Returned Phalanx Born of the Gods: Courser of Kruphix, Retraction Helix Journey Into Nyx: Eidolon of the Great Revel, Nyx-Fleece Ram Magic 2015: Jalira, Master Polymorphist, Geist of the Moors Khans of Tarkir: Hordeling Outburst, Woolly Loxodon, Dragon's Eye Savants, Mystic of the Hidden Way, Ruthless Ripper Fate Reforged: Humble Defector Dragons of Tarkir: Epic Confrontation, Ainok Survivalist, Ire Shaman Magic Origins: Enthralling Victor, Valor in Akros Battle for Zendikar: Zada, Hedron Grinder, Coralhelm Guide, Zulaport Cutthroat Oath of the Gatewatch: Baloth Null Shadows Over Innistrad: Triskaidekaphobia, Vessel of Nascency, Uncaged Fury, Pyre Hound, Dauntless Cathar Eldritch Moon: Lunarch Mantle Kaladesh: Cloudblazer, Self-Assembler Aether Revolt: Treasure Keeper Amonkhet: Thresher Lizard, Horror of the Broken Lands, Supernatural Stamina Hour of Devastation: Act of Heroism Ixalan: Colossal Dreadmaw Rivals of Ixalan: Ravenous Chupacabra, Dusk Legion Zealot Commander: Animar, Soul of Elements Commander 2013: Prossh, Skyraider of Kher Commander 2014: Reef Worm, Myriad Landscape Commander 2015: Magus of the Wheel Commander 2016: Ash Barrens Commander 2017: Izzet Chemister Planechase 2012: Sai of the Shinobi Conspiracy: Grenzo, Dungeon Warden Conspiracy: Take the Crown: Deadly Designs

One thing I thought about while reading that series was how long it took for the creators to start thinking clearly about design, even on a very basic level.

There’s a clear pattern across many of the early sets where it looks like the designers only thought about a card in some hypothetical context they had in mind for it, and ignored how likely that context was.  An ability that only functions in a rare situation is, obviously (I would think?), much less valuable than the same ability without the restriction.  But the designers didn’t seem to realize this, and would print cards that did mediocre things in rare situations while appearing to believe they were printing mediocre cards, not bad ones.

The post on Ice Age block begins with a discussion of the card Balduvian Shaman, which I actually assumed was a parody until I read the accompanying blog text.  Balduvian Shaman is a blue 1/1 for U with the following rules text:

Permanently change the text of target white enchantment you control that does not have cumulative upkeep by replacing all instances of one color word with another. For example, you may change "Counters black spells" to "Counters blue spells." Balduvian Shaman cannot change mana symbols. That enchantment now has Cumulative Upkeep: (1).

“Wasn’t Magic founded by a bunch of math Ph.Ds?” I thought.  “How could they have not thought about probability?“  Which made it especially strange to read, in the very next paragraph:

What sort of designer would think that such fiddly, bean-counting cards would be fun? If you guessed college guys studying math and physics, you’d be right! Skaff Elias’s feature article is pretty essential background material here, so go read that instead if you were looking for actual history.

Some versions of this problem was around at least as late as Weatherlight, which was supposed to be a graveyard-seemed set, but which didn’t appreciate that players would only treat their graveyards differently if the graveyard-related abilities were sufficiently powerful (creating an incentive to shift other behavior to accommodate them).

Round of 16384 - Batch 159

Batch 159 voting is now open. The following polls are currently open:

Batch 159 Batch 158 Batch 157 Batch 156 Batch 155 Batch 154 Batch 153

Batch 152 results will be up soon.

The full list of matchups for today is:

Duplicant vs Harrier Griffin Rise of Eagles vs The Gitrog Monster Serene Offering vs Riptide Biologist Death Cloud vs Duskwatch Recruiter Silt Crawler vs Quicksand Open the Vaults vs Hazezon Tamar Animate Wall vs Draining Whelk Phyrexian Revoker vs Balduvian Shaman Denizen of the Deep vs Child of Night Coalition Honor Guard vs Temur Charm Maw of the Mire vs Nourishing Shoal Collective Restraint vs Disorder Deathbringer Liege vs Llanowar Behemoth Minotaur Tactician vs Hunger of the Howlpack Crystal Golem vs Rite of the Serpent Infernal Kirin vs Melek, Izzet Paragon Mercadia's Downfall vs Petrified Plating Glissa, the Traitor vs Cathedral of War Lord of the Void vs Kjeldoran Skyknight Ignition Team vs Anti-Magic Aura Coordinated Assault vs Crenellated Wall Sapphire Charm vs Claws of Valakut Borrowed Grace vs Promised Kannushi Fatigue vs Reflect Damage Archangel vs Stone-Throwing Devils Magus of the Moat vs Skullcrack Opal Palace vs Sigiled Behemoth Mistmeadow Witch vs Bushi Tenderfoot In Garruk's Wake vs Voodoo Doll Spellbook vs Wall of Caltrops Strange Inversion vs Galvanic Juggernaut Cunning Wish vs Dark Betrayal

Vorthos Discussion: Commander Locales?

For the past few years, Wizards has put out Commander sets with new and minor characters... But not all of these characters have particularly detailed backstories. What I’d like to do, with all your help, is look at each commander and see if we can’t figure out what Plane they’re actually from. For the purposes of this conversation, we’re going to assume everybody’s from a known plane, merely because being from an unknown plane makes guessing impossible. So... I’m going to start with a list, and remind you all that Autocard Anywhere makes this a lot easier to do without me filling the screen with card images..

Commander:

Kaalia of the Vast: ???, has to be somewhere with lots of demons, dragons, and angels.

Tariel, Reckoner of Souls: ???, but is a fallen angel so has to be somewhere with angels. That said... That’s Rakdos armor, isn’t it? I mean, it’s rediculous and spiky and bright red. Isn’t that pure Rakdosy goodness? Being a fallen Boros or Orzhov angel into Rakdos would also explain the three colors.

Basandra, battle Seraph: ???, That is a rather unique style she’s got going there. Doesn’t feel like it fits on most worlds, but I’m not sure where it does fit. She’s certainly not a Bant, Ravnica, or Zendikar angel.

Riku of Two Reflections: ???,  That’s a lot of shoulderpad there. I feel like it’s familiar. Where is that style of dress from for mages?

Animar, Soul of Elements: ???, Animar is ultimate source of life and elements on his plane... Which rules out a lot of planes, if not most of them. We shouldn’t assume we don’t know it, but Animar seems like such a big deal that it’d have to be a plane we don’t know much about, or we’d know more about Animar.

Edric, Spymaster of Trest: Fiora. Edric was actually one of the first glimpses of Fiora we ever had.

Ghave, Guru of Spores: ???, somewhere with a hell of a lot of saprolings. It can’t be Jund because of his colors, so I feel like this suggests Dominaria in Thallid country, wherever that is. You know what? I’m gonna go ahead and guess Ghave IS a Thallid.

Karador, Ghost Chieftain: ???, but Magic has only 51 centaurs and very few share Karador’s design. Now, I don’t know where he found a forest, but the ONLY centaurs in Magic to have human faces and bigass horns outside of Karador are Burning-Tree Shaman and Ghor-Clan Savage. Further, he was a warchief who fought rival warchiefs. Unfortunately, he lives in a forest valley, which Ravnica doesn’t seem to have many of. Still, it’s not impossible for there to be a spot or two like that, however unlikely.

Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter: ???. Very few vampires in Magic have wings, and only Falkenrath Marauders really resemble him in design. There’s no precedent for white vampires on Innistrad, though, and his outfit would look very out of place there.

Zedruu the Greathearted: ???, Zedruu is unique. I can’t really find any clues here, or anything that looks remotely like her.

Ruhan of the Fomori: Ir. Yeah. Apparently the fomori are home to the plane of “Ir” which shows up just on a Planechase card.

Nin, the Pain Artist: ???, but the existance of Staff of Nin in M13 makes me lean toward Shandalar.

The Mimeoplasm: Muraganda, which we know little about

Damia, Sage of Stone: ???, and her art includes references to multiple planes, so using it as a clue just confuses the issue.

Skullbriar, the Walking Grave: ???, but everything about this card screams Innistrad as far as flavor goes.

C13:

Jeleva, Nephalia’s Scourge: Innistrad. Because Nephalia.

Nekusar, the Mindrazer: ???, Surprisingly, his biggest clue is being a former king, not being a lich. Most worlds have liches, but kingdoms are actually pretty rare these days.

Oloro, Ageless Ascetic: ??? . Remote, mist-shrouded island could put him on basically any plane. Kinda feels like a Theros ideal, though, especially with his lack of pants. There are no pants on Theros.

Sydri, Galvanic Genius: Fiora. She got announced with a story.

Marath, Will of the Wild: ???  , but I’m guessing Naya here. Feels like a Naya thing.

Gahiji, Honored One:  ???.  Off in some tribal place, with a battle of flat sky. Somewhere with a jungle.

Prossh, Skyraider of Kher: Dominaria, because Kher

Shattegang Brothers: Ravnica, stated originally and appear in “Limits”

Derevi, Empyrial Tactician:  Bant. Confirmed.

Roon of the Hidden Realm: ???, but he’s a Rhox soldier in Bant colors. Further, we don’t know when this takes place, but it’s possible the Hidden Realm was one of the other shards.

C14 is all people we know from elsewhere, but special note to Ob Nixilis, whose plane is gone and who nobody else knows the name of.

C15:

Anya, Merciless Angel: ??? Could be a Boros angel, but could also be basically anywhere

Arjun, the Shifting Flame: ??? , that is a unique sphinx though

Daxos, the Returned: Theros

Ezuri, Claw of Progress: Argentum.

Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas: Theros

Karlov of the Ghost Council: Ravnica

Kaseto, Orochi Archmage: Kamigawa. Not only is that an Orochi, but the flavor text references Seshiro, so it can’t even be an Orochi from elsewhere

Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest: Ravnica, references the “Undercity.”

Meren of Clan Nel Toth: Alara, specifically Jund

Mizzix of the Izmagnus: Ravnica, obviously Izzet

C16: Most of these are obvious or stated outright, so there’s just two I want to mention...

Saskia the Unyielding: ???, but generally accepted to be a Balduvian from Dominaria, due to the woad and costuming of herself and her allies.

Tana, the Bloodsower: ???, but various visual clues suggest she lives in the same area as Ghave. They use the same Saproling design, which is also shared with a card that has Ghave mentioned in flavor text in M13.

So, for anybody unknown... I’d love to hear what you think. And if you disagree with some of my assessments, let’s hear ‘em.

Rejected Flavor Text:

“People, we have a problem. Our market research indicates that half of all players die of old age before they finish reading the full text of this card.”

Storm Shaman

"Embrace the storm. Its voice shall echo within you, and its fire shall become your touch!" —Lovisa Coldeyes, Balduvian chieftain

Artist: Carol Heyer TCG Player Link Scryfall Link EDHREC Link

Storm Shaman

"Embrace the storm. Its voice shall echo within you, and its fire shall become your touch!" —Lovisa Coldeyes, Balduvian Chieftain

Artist: Carol Heyer TCG Player Link Scryfall Link EDHREC Link

Storm Shaman

"Embrace the storm. Its voice shall echo within you, and its fire shall become your touch!" —Lovisa Coldeyes, Balduvian Chieftain

Artist: Carol Heyer TCG Player Link Scryfall Link EDHREC Link

Balduvian Shaman

Artist: Quinton Hoover TCG Player Link Scryfall Link EDHREC Link

Snow Devil

"Give me wings to fly and speed to strike. In return, the glory I earn shall be yours." —Steinar Icefist, Balduvian Shaman

Artist: Ken Meyer, Jr.

Snow Devil

"Give me wings to fly and speed to strike. In return, the glory I earn shall be yours." —Steinar Icefist, Balduvian Shaman

Artist: Ken Meyer, Jr. TCG Player Link Scryfall Link EDHREC Link