Honestly, this rare truly is filler; It'd be great, in some circumstances, but one little word, shroud, is what really makes this card pitiful. I mean, without shroud, the Gilder Bairn would have made some very wicked combos with this card and who knows what else could synergize with it, but alas, it cannot be targeted, and thus making this utterly poor in terms of rares.
HarDHarKoopa
★★★☆☆ (3.1/5.0)(5 votes)
Dude, you don;t need to target this. Just use a lot of mana producers (like an elf deck). Why would you traget this card? You just need a lot of mana, because I doubt there are cards that reference tower counters. This is a good/great card, depending on the deck. You know all those turns where you have a lot of mana but nothing to spend it on? Solution: here!
Dingo777
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(3 votes)
I agree with you both, it can be awesome if you have a mana flood but if you dont have a mana flood, you are in trouble, if your deck is sneaking by with only just enough mana you are not gonna win with Helix pinical
I would rather spend my 15 open mana on an feral hydra or appocolypse wurm
Treima
★★★☆☆ (3.1/5.0)(5 votes)
An intriguing card, to be sure, but it requires 100 mana to be poured into it in order to win. I think even the fastest mana flood decks can't get 100 mana in anything less than 10 turns on average unless they use an infinite mana combo, and if you're using an infinite mana combo you could win a myriad of ways instantly instead of waiting for your next upkeep and giving your opponent the chance to play any number of enchantment destroyers that don't target a la Akroma's Vengeance. So you're waiting 10 turns and spending every last bit of mana you get into this one card while your opponent is setting up whatever combo or creature kill he's building up to. I'd say your odds of winning with this card are absolutely substantially worse in that case.
Promatim
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(4 votes)
"All the turns you have nothing but mana?" Koopa, who are you playing that is letting you sit for ten turns with just mana?
I can start to think of cards to put with this, maybe a bant turtling deck, with some martial coupes, flutter of wings, cumber stones... but even still.
There are ways around the shroud, same way you get around prot. Global effects or spells that don't target a card will still affect Helix Pinnacle. It's limited, but there has to be something. Unfortunately, a single tranquility will wipe all your hard work away.
There are just so many nice 7-8 turn win condition decks out there, this card is useless.
You can't just go mana-accel, obviously. Even with explosive vegetation, elvish aberration, fyrnhorn elders, you're still hedging all your bets on one card that does nothing to the opponent. And you're vulnerable. Maybe a saproling deck with citanul hierophants could do it.
You'd have to do an all-out turtle/stall control deck, which would soak up a ton of your mana in defense. Enjoy your shaky win on turn eighteen.
Taesr
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(4 votes)
UG control deck with Upwelling and Doubling Cube could make it work...
Kenji18
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(7 votes)
How about: Turn 1 Pinnacle Turn 2 Bloom Tender Turn 3 Freed From the Real (infinite green mana) Turn 4 upkeep win.
It's not T2, but the Bloom Tender only needs to live for 2 turns. It might work in casual play.
Arachibutyrophobia
★★★☆☆ (3.1/5.0)(4 votes)
Good if you can get infinity mana, otherwise I prefer Dark Depths.
SoulReaverDan
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(3 votes)
This seems like a card that could go well. It would likely mostly be one of those "Okay, at the end of your turn I funnel all open mana sources into it" and sort of leave it there otherwise. The kind of card that you wait until the end phase of your opponent's turn before using it, dumping any extra mana you have. A fun card for tossaround, but not one I'd probably play in a tournament deck.
PaladinOfSunhome
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(4 votes)
Good card if you can get the mana easly, but if you can't or struggle to get it, then pass.
3.0
Man-in-the-Hat
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Last time I saw this card in a game, I waited until my opponent had 96 Tower counters on it, and then cast Tempest of Light... and really ***ed them off. After that I just bumrushed them with an army of mostly 1/1 White soldier tokens... with a lot of boosts. All in all, they were 5/5 with Vigliance, and First Strike.
ratchet1215
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Aggghhh, you have to PUT COUNTERS ON, not take them off...I forgot. I was thinking another easy Vampire Hexmage win combo.
Silverware
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(6 votes)
@ ratchet1215
Even if it required counters to be taken off instead of being put on it the vampire hexmage still wouldn't work. Vampire hexmage has to target the permanent, since Helix pinnacle has shourd that combo wouldn't work.
Champion_Kitsune
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(9 votes)
Oh come on, you know it had to be done :P I love this card. It makes it seem like every game is a race to build the tower. For a fun, flavorful, casual deck, add walls and season to taste.
Mewgle
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Works well in a Mono Green Elf Deck with Ambush Commander, Elvish Promenade (4 for best results), and Elvish Archdruid.
izzet_guild_mage
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(6 votes)
I've reached 86 counters on this, with an end of turn tap-out spelling a game win...unfortunately, I got killed :P Too bad Time Stretch is only 2 turns...
CatsAreCthala
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Probably the coolest win condition beside Storm crow.
darkfury
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(10 votes)
4th best win condition ever: 3rd: stormcrow 2nd: Lord of Extrinction+Nemesis of Reason, i crush your sanity 1st: Ornithopter. nothing more spiteful then being killed by a 0/2
A3Kitsune
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
No other card in the game says "combo me with Doubling Season" as much as this card.
bijart_dauth
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
i'm building a mono green mana axeleration elf deck useing tooth and nail to pull an iona and a painter's servant to lock doun the game long enough to win.
I love alternate win conditions like this. It's a good card to put pressure on your opponent while the rest of your deck does real damage.
Dobruk
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I managed to win with a deck built around this card in flying colors. Fortunately my opponents weren't in possession of a spell that could destroy all enchantments or of any land destroyers. I also had enough creatures out there that they couldn't attack me. I've put Mana Reflection into the deck, but I may remove it due to expense.
zositmos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
upwelling?
qaq456
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
play in a dumb multiplayer game maybe with a mana combo
DjDym
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
@kenji18: Thank you, you just made it easier for me. I was thinking of using Sachi and the Leafcaller with Freed from the real for this one, but the Bloom Tender is WAY better! YEY, New Infinite Manna combo and this one is two cards!
This with the new SOM Proliferate ability. Proliferate doesnt target anything, so a Contagion engine with this would mean end game fairly quickly.
VoidedNote
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Cloud Post and Urza lands... Nuff said.
ThatGuyYouHate
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
this would be terrifying with loads of eldrazi spawn to sac.
dragonking987
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
wow this would be the most annoying way to die ever your appoint just sits back the whole game fighting off your army's building it up one charge counter at a time.
TheSwarm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Gonna throw it in as a win condition in a defender deck and overgrown battlement, producing manymany manas whilst also producing many many lifes via wall of reverence and perimeter captain this card is either horrendous or a fantastic. And at bijart_dauth, Iona iiiiiisssss a damn win condition. You do not need this card.
Tommy9898
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I learned the hard way not to play it on turn one in EDH when your commander is Rosheen. Everyone ganged up on me and I died pretty quickly. Not that it is a bad card, just don't let people know you have it until you can dominate the board.
Turn 1: Helix Pinnacle Turn 2: Rampant Growth Turn 3: Gilder Bairn, Training Grounds Turn 4: Utopia Vow, tap & untap Gilder Bairn for infinite counters Turn 5: Upkeep win
Not the quickest win out there but still fun.
Demonic_Math_Tutor
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(21 votes)
How the hell do you get 100 counters onto a piece of cardboard?
Magnor_Criol
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(2 votes)
@TheDanish - Gilder Bairn won't work here because he needs to target something, and the Pinnacle has shroud. No dice.
Personally I like this card a lot. Sure he's not the most efficient, foolproof or punishing way to win, but he's a lot of fun, and the image of staving off encroaching enemies while you construct your ultimate tower of power is fun.
Wormfang
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
in r/g with braids of fire
frommerman
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
begging to be comboed with opalescence and training grounds (not really, but could work in a bant deck). Might also be good to throw doubling season in the deck. Ok, now I pay 1 mana and win next upkeep! (4 training grounds=9 counters/mana, 4 doubling season= 9*16, which is way more than 100)
ajpinton
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
@SpencerDub and Kruggles, You can't Proliferate Helix Pinnacle due to it having shroud. Though you can use Doubling Season since it does not target like Proliferate.
land_comment
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(2 votes)
This card was made for worldwake. It's just scary.
CAN'T FIGHT THE WORLDWAKE POWER!!!!!!!!!!
SpencerDub
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Kruggles: Each time you proliferate, you only add one more counter. Proliferating on the Pinnacle would only add one more tower counter-- it wouldn't double it.
Contagion Clasp proliferates for . Steady Progress proliferates for . Contagion Engine proliferates twice for , or per proliferation. None of these are as efficient as using the Pinnacle's own tower-building ability.
@ajpinton: "You can't Proliferate Helix Pinnacle due to it having shroud."
Check the reminder text for proliferate again. It doesn't target any permanents--instead, it asks you to choose any number of permanents. Choosing and targeting are two very different things. Rule 114.9a in the Comprehensive Rules backs me up:
"Just because an object or player is being affected by a spell or ability doesn’t make that object or player a target of that spell or ability. Unless that object or player is identified by the word “target” in the text of that spell or ability, or the rule for that keyword ability, it’s not a target."
JAs-IS
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Surely this is a really boring way to try and win the game...?
ZeroSheep
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Cloudpost, Glimmerpost, and Vesuva make it happen. Slow, easy to counter, but fun. And the look on your opponent's face after you build the Tower is priceless.
Corey_bayoudragonfly
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@superllama - training grounds won't work because it only affects the activated abilities of creatures. You could of course do mycosynth lattice and march of the machines, but I hope you'd have a source of mana other than lands...
supershawn
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
why would you waste time paying mana to proliferate this when you could just use it's ability to add counters? now I could see it maybe if you just had proliferate tacked on to a bunch of other affects, but more importantly if you plan on proliferating, darksteel reactor works better.
also to corey, no you don't need something other than lands, play something that pumps all your creatures.
Rosheen Meanderer plus untap spam (or just wait). No need to even go infinite...
TrueKitsonga
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
@pedrodyl Now look at the card again, note the keyword "Shroud" and think again.
the_sixth_degree
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This looks unbelievably fun, if not all that useful. Which is what I look for in my Magic cards.
sonorhC
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I usually use pennies for counters. If something gets five or more counters, I replace them with nickels, dimes, etc. So I guess if I won with this, I would stick a dollar bill on it.
Oh, and this can be good as an alternate win condition in an Omnath deck, in case they have some way of stopping creatures.
The very definition of alternate win condition in many elf decks.
RianBattle
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
this card is going to be hilarious in my elf deck. it's uncommon not for me to be able to tap for close to 100 mana if not more by turn 5 just the way the deck runs as i have it. if it happens to get destroyed, oh well...if not, funny way to win.
though i do have a question...if i activate it's ability for x mana, and it gets destroyed somehow while the ability is on the stack through an instant, is the mana gone at that point? i would assume so, and if that's the case i'd have to wait an extra turn for a huge banefire lol
Crag-Hack
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Ive played with and against this card and all i can say is that 100 mana is a lot
pedrodyl
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(3 votes)
p1: Finally! 100 counters on helix pinnacle! Next Upkeep, I win. p2. Alright I'll play Vampire Hexmage. p1: No... p2: And I'll sac it. p1: FFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!
That's right, eat it Helix Pinnacle players! ALL MY HATE. SIMPLIFY!
A_Real_Travesty
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Love the card, but the biggest threat is how much time your opponent usually has to see it coming. Without a huge mana-combo to speed up the process, they have plenty of time to figure something out.
P1: Hehe, 98 counters. Go ahead and attack me. As soon as my mana untaps, it's game over. P2: Mhm.. Aether Snap. P1: ....
Granted, that's a little situational, but I've started putting that card in a lot of black decks just to deal with +1/+1 counters flying around.
Jedijoe
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@ ajpinton
Actually, you can proliferate it. Proliferating does not target, rather you CHOOSE any number of permanents and players, etc. etc...
This is totally going in my Sphere of Safety/Enchanted Evening/Witchbane Orb Deck
wooded_taint
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A friend to infinite mana combo-ers everywhere. Shroud just makes it even better.
Xinsden
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
People are asking how you can possibly get 100 counters on such a thing as this? Vorel of the Hull Clade and Gilder Barine sure have their work cut out for them... :D
Ferlord
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
God-damned encounter deck from Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013...
Ligerman30
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Where this card shines the most is in multi-player where winning the game is effectively equivalent to killing three or more opponents. Generating 21 mana 3 times and having 3 blaze effects in hand can be harder then producing 100 mana and having a single helix pinnacle over the course of a multi-player game. The fact this has shroud makes it harder to stop then something like test of endurance, but, not quite as hard to stop as banefire.
4.5/5 A good alternate win condition in my omnath deck (I go infinite in mana with Maze of Ith and Argothian Elders), but if I don't go infinite it's not even hard because of Omnath. Just drop this one when you are ready, not before (it might get removed or bouced, even if it have shroud).
orzhov20
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Demonicmathtutor that's why there tower counters
casualhorror
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This card wins naturally, when Helix Pinacle is played turn one, without missing land drops, at the beginning of your fifteenth turn with a total of 104 possible tower counters. (Wow! Faster than a 1/1 on turn 1 for {1} attacking each subsequent turn with no other creatures or spells getting played!) This is without you doing anything else other than straight hitting land drops and spending your mana. So here is a 'recommended' deck list: 4xHelix Pinnacle 4xSerum Powder 52Forest
Our game plan is mulling until you have at least one Helix Pinnacle in hand,and then playing lands! You get bonus points if you get multiple Helix Pinnacles to one hundred before that fateful upkeep. (Hint: Get each one to the point where you can pay for the remaining tower counters of all of them at once!)
All joking aside, it is a decently hard to interact with win condition to use with infinite mana combos or complete lock outs in casual. Also, it is just plain fun to occasionally win with "bad" cards, especially if your friends are playing much more expensive decks. Fetch it with a tutor like Sterling Grove or Idyllic Tutor. Just make sure to have a Moment's Peace with Angel's Grace to get to through your opponent's final turns. Or perhaps this is your cruel win condition, without tutors or ramp, in a casual Orim's Chant/Silence Deck with Isochron Scepter.
Now you just need to choose/find your infinite combo or complete lock and your set for some Johnny fun! (I guess ramping works too, it just isn't as fun.)
car2n
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Flavor-wise, I don't understand how this card helps you "win".
Templar314
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
At 100 counters, the Helix Fossil answers your prayers.
Arachnos
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@Templar314:
Helix Fossil {U}
Shroud
{X}: Put X consultation counters on Helix Fossil.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if there are 100 or more consultation counters on Helix Fossil, you win the game.
ALL HAIL THE HELIX!
SirLibraryEater
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
56 forests and this means guaranteed win by turn 14. Maybe throw in a few copies of Vorel of the Hull Clade or Gilder Bairn to speed things up a bit.
r2d2go
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Fun card. Vorel of the Hull Clade/Glider Bairn makes it a bit more playable - spend seven mana on it and double it four times (or four mana and double five times, or thirteen and three) and win.
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Or you can spend 21 mana to win with a fireball!!!
Comments (89)
I would rather spend my 15 open mana on an feral hydra or appocolypse wurm
I can start to think of cards to put with this, maybe a bant turtling deck, with some martial coupes, flutter of wings, cumber stones... but even still.
There are ways around the shroud, same way you get around prot. Global effects or spells that don't target a card will still affect Helix Pinnacle. It's limited, but there has to be something. Unfortunately, a single tranquility will wipe all your hard work away.
There are just so many nice 7-8 turn win condition decks out there, this card is useless.
You can't just go mana-accel, obviously. Even with explosive vegetation, elvish aberration, fyrnhorn elders, you're still hedging all your bets on one card that does nothing to the opponent. And you're vulnerable. Maybe a saproling deck with citanul hierophants could do it.
You'd have to do an all-out turtle/stall control deck, which would soak up a ton of your mana in defense. Enjoy your shaky win on turn eighteen.
Turn 1 Pinnacle
Turn 2 Bloom Tender
Turn 3 Freed From the Real (infinite green mana)
Turn 4 upkeep win.
It's not T2, but the Bloom Tender only needs to live for 2 turns. It might work in casual play.
3.0
Even if it required counters to be taken off instead of being put on it the vampire hexmage still wouldn't work. Vampire hexmage has to target the permanent, since Helix pinnacle has shourd that combo wouldn't work.
I love this card. It makes it seem like every game is a race to build the tower. For a fun, flavorful, casual deck, add walls and season to taste.
3rd: stormcrow
2nd: Lord of Extrinction+Nemesis of Reason, i crush your sanity
1st: Ornithopter. nothing more spiteful then being killed by a 0/2
urza's power plant
urza's factory
urza's mine
Mana Flare
Enjoy :D
this card is either horrendous or a fantastic. And at bijart_dauth, Iona iiiiiisssss a damn win condition. You do not need this card.
Turn 2: Rampant Growth
Turn 3: Gilder Bairn, Training Grounds
Turn 4: Utopia Vow, tap & untap Gilder Bairn for infinite counters
Turn 5: Upkeep win
Not the quickest win out there but still fun.
Personally I like this card a lot. Sure he's not the most efficient, foolproof or punishing way to win, but he's a lot of fun, and the image of staving off encroaching enemies while you construct your ultimate tower of power is fun.
Ok, now I pay 1 mana and win next upkeep!
(4 training grounds=9 counters/mana, 4 doubling season= 9*16, which is way more than 100)
CAN'T FIGHT THE WORLDWAKE POWER!!!!!!!!!!
Contagion Clasp proliferates for
@ajpinton: "You can't Proliferate Helix Pinnacle due to it having shroud."
Check the reminder text for proliferate again. It doesn't target any permanents--instead, it asks you to choose any number of permanents. Choosing and targeting are two very different things. Rule 114.9a in the Comprehensive Rules backs me up:
"Just because an object or player is being affected by a spell or ability doesn’t make that
object or player a target of that spell or ability. Unless that object or player is identified by the
word “target” in the text of that spell or ability, or the rule for that keyword ability, it’s not a
target."
now I could see it maybe if you just had proliferate tacked on to a bunch of other affects, but more importantly if you plan on proliferating, darksteel reactor works better.
also to corey, no you don't need something other than lands, play something that pumps all your creatures.
Fun!
but unfortulately i didn't :(
http://www.wizards.com/mtg/images/daily/sf/sf20_helix.jpg
But they used dice. :-(
Which is what I look for in my Magic cards.
Oh, and this can be good as an alternate win condition in an Omnath deck, in case they have some way of stopping creatures.
though i do have a question...if i activate it's ability for x mana, and it gets destroyed somehow while the ability is on the stack through an instant, is the mana gone at that point? i would assume so, and if that's the case i'd have to wait an extra turn for a huge banefire lol
p2. Alright I'll play Vampire Hexmage.
p1: No...
p2: And I'll sac it.
p1: FFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!
edit: whoops.
@Truekitten: I'm looking at the card, noting the word "counter," and now I'm thinking Nim Deathmantle, Composite Golem, Filigree Sages, and Giant Fan ;)
That's right, eat it Helix Pinnacle players!
ALL MY HATE.
SIMPLIFY!
P1: Hehe, 98 counters. Go ahead and attack me. As soon as my mana untaps, it's game over.
P2: Mhm.. Aether Snap.
P1: ....
Granted, that's a little situational, but I've started putting that card in a lot of black decks just to deal with +1/+1 counters flying around.
Actually, you can proliferate it. Proliferating does not target, rather you CHOOSE any number of permanents and players, etc. etc...
@pedrodyl
You know it has shroud right?...
Mana Reflection.
Shroud just makes it even better.
Vorel of the Hull Clade and Gilder Barine sure have their work cut out for them... :D
Also, Doubling season, Mana Reflection.
@Xinsden nope, they both target, this has shroud. Sorry bud :\
Oh, and Fireball (and friends) cost Twenty ONE mana for game.
-Swag_Crow
4x Helix Pinnacle
4x Serum Powder
52 Forest
Our game plan is mulling until you have at least one Helix Pinnacle in hand,and then playing lands! You get bonus points if you get multiple Helix Pinnacles to one hundred before that fateful upkeep. (Hint: Get each one to the point where you can pay for the remaining tower counters of all of them at once!)
All joking aside, it is a decently hard to interact with win condition to use with infinite mana combos or complete lock outs in casual. Also, it is just plain fun to occasionally win with "bad" cards, especially if your friends are playing much more expensive decks. Fetch it with a tutor like Sterling Grove or Idyllic Tutor. Just make sure to have a Moment's Peace with Angel's Grace to get to through your opponent's final turns. Or perhaps this is your cruel win condition, without tutors or ramp, in a casual Orim's Chant/Silence Deck with Isochron Scepter.
Now you just need to choose/find your infinite combo or complete lock and your set for some Johnny fun! (I guess ramping works too, it just isn't as fun.)
Helix Fossil {U}
Shroud
{X}: Put X consultation counters on Helix Fossil.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if there are 100 or more consultation counters on Helix Fossil, you win the game.
ALL HAIL THE HELIX!
Maybe throw in a few copies of Vorel of the Hull Clade or Gilder Bairn to speed things up a bit.